The official AVS Guide to HD DVD Authoring. [Text View]

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Joseph Clark

07-30-06, 05:33 PM

The Official AVS Guide to HD DVD Authoring

This guide will take you through the creation of your own HD DVDs step by step. This process uses regular DVD recordables (and double layer DVD recordables) to create HD DVD discs that will play on a standard HD DVD player (such as the Toshiba A1 or XA1). At present, high definition MPEG2 files at resolutions of 1920x1080i, 1440x1080i (HDV) and 1280x1080i work without additional conversion within the software. 1088i and 720p are now supported with the addition of HDPatch, a simple but powerful utility by texmex. See below for specific instructions if your files are 720p or 1088i (i.e. DirecTV).

Special Warnings:

1. Recording double/dual layer DVD media has proven less consistent than recording single layer DVDs. You may find it difficult to achieve successful burns with double layer media using certain combinations of burners and media.

2. DircecTV users will need to convert their video from 1088i to 1080i for this process to work. See the notes below on using texmex's HDPatch conversion utility. Download the attached file below.

3. HDTV files in 720p format also will need to be processed with texmex's HDPatch utility, if you are using a version of Ulead Movie Factory 5 before version 5.3.0.0. Versions after this appear to have full support for 720p60 built in. (Thanks Leonowski.) HDV 720p30 files, however, still need to be patched. (Thanks d-v-c.)

4. Reports are that Nero Burning ROM 7 is less problematic in creating discs than earlier versions. Some people report failures with version 6.

5. Reports of stuttering playback using DVD+R, single and double layer, especially with high bitrate material, may be related to the Booktype setting. In Nero, under 'Choose Recorder,' change the Booktype setting on your DVD burner from "DVD-ROM" to "Physical Disc Type." Note that not all burners allow you to change the Booktype.

For additional information and all the original posts, go to the AVS Forum thread started by Aaron.s:

Original AVS Forum HD DVD Creation Thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=667462&page=1&pp=30)

Please make all new posts to this thread.

Hardware requirements:

1. A device that allows MPEG2 captures to a computer. This may include: HDV camcorders; D-VHS recorders (with unprotected content); OTA receivers with FireWire output; OTA computer capture cards such as MyHD or Fusion; FireWire devices such as 169Time; and, USB2 devices such as the Nextcom R5000 (for HD receivers from Dish Network, DirecTV and some cable TV companies).
2. Any more recent computer (Intel or AMD based systems) with a DVD burner and sufficient hard drive space.

Software requirements (alternate software is listed below):

1. VideoRedo (version 2.2.1.491).
VideoRedo (http://www.videoredo.com/)
2. Ulead Movie Factory 5.
Ulead Movie Factory 5 (http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm)
3. Nero Burning ROM (versions 6 and 7 work, although some people report problems creating discs with version 6).
Nero Burning ROM 7 (http://ww2.nero.com/enu/index.html)

Basic Steps for Creating HD DVDs:

1. Capture a high definition MPEG2 video to your computer.
2. Convert the video file from .ts, .tp or .m2t transport stream format to program stream format (mpg) using VideoRedo.
3. Create an HD DVD folder on your computer using Ulead Movie Factory 5.
4. Burn the HD DVD disc using Nero Burning ROM.

Detailed Steps for Creating HD DVDs:

1. Capture a high definition MPEG2 video clip using an appropriate device. See Hardware Requirements above for a partial list of devices. It is beyond the scope of this guide to include specific instructions for capture. Several other threads exist on the AVS Forum that cover this process.

2. Convert the MPEG2 transport stream file (usually with a .ts, .tp or .m2t file extension) to MPEG2 program stream (with an .mpg extension) with VideoRedo:

Special Note: As of this writing (late October, 2006), version 2.2.1.491 is a beta release. You must follow the instructions below to access the special feature that allows VideoRedo to work seamlessly with Movie Factory 5. Future full releases should have this feature available without having to hold the shift key.

a. Start VideoRedo. Select File>Open Video… . In the browser, select the movie you’ve captured. (Tip: if you have multiple files that need to be added as a whole, lasso select the files and choose "Combine," not "Join," from the dialog that follows; the file segments will be combined into one large MPEG.)
b. In the main menu, select Tools>Options. Hold down the shift key as you click on "Options." This will bring up one additional selection - "Add GOP Timecode to all GOPs... .") Click on this and change the value to "True."
c. Use the play and navigation buttons to find the start of a section of the video you want to delete. Click “Set Start.” Find the end of the section you want to delete and click “Set End.” Click “Cut selection.” (It will turn red.)
d. Repeat this process for all the sections you want to delete. (Tip: use the arrow keys and your mouse’s scroll wheel to move quickly through the video. A full set of keyboard shortcuts can be accessed from the main menu's "Help" item.)
e. Select File>Save Video As… . Select a folder on the hard drive to save the video. By “Save as type:” select “MPEG Program Streams (.mpg .mpeg).”

Special Note: If after using VideoRedo to convert your file, Movie Factory 5 still insists on re-encoding your video, try processing the file with HDPatch (see below). Another use for HDPatch is to replace false bitrate values. Files improperly marked with high bitrate numbers may force Movie Factory 5 to re-encode the video to make the files compatible. See the notes on HDPatch below for a technique to replace false high bitrate numbers with more accurate ones.

IMPORTANT NOTE for using this technique with 1088i and 720p videos:

If the file you are using is 1088i (DirecTV) or 720p, see below to patch your video so that it can be used with Movie Factory 5. If you don't follow the instructions below, you may be able to create an HD DVD folder, but the process will take much longer and the resulting video will be degraded dramatically from the original. In the worst case scenario, Movie Factory 5 will reject the file as incompatible.

3. Create the HD DVD folder on your computer with Ulead Movie Factory 5.

a. Start Ulead Movie Factory 5 (and wait, it loads slowly). Select “New Project.”
b. Under “Create a Video Disc” select “HD DVD.” Click “OK.”
c. In the upper right, select the movie film icon with the + sign (second icon from the left). In the browser, select the video file you just converted. The file should load in quickly. Long delays in file loading are being investigated. See some possible solutions in the frequently asked questions section below. Tip: avoid trimming the video at this stage of the process. Trimming here may result in video re-encoding. It's better to do all editing in VideoRedo, prior to importing your file into Movie Factory 5.
d. Deselect the button on the left marked “Create menu.” (Leaving this button on will allow you to create custom menus for your project, but they will slow the process. For many projects, menus will be unnecessary. This also allows you to check more easily that your project is processing without re-encoding.)
e. Click on “Add/Edit Chapter…”
f. Clicking “Auto Add Chapters…” brings up a box in which you may have the program add chapters at fixed intervals in minutes. Playing and moving the play button for the movie allows you to use the “Add chapter” selection manually. (Chapters allow you to navigate quickly through the video on your HD DVD player.) When you've added all the chapters you want, click “OK.”
g. Click “Next” and use this screen to check playback and chapter stops in your program. When you're satisfied with playback, click “Next” again.
h. Click on the “Project Settings” button in the lower left of the screen. Make sure the box labeled “Do not convert compliant MPEG files” is checked and click “OK.”
i. Click the box labeled “Create HD DVD folders.” Click on the folder icon at the end of this option to select the folder where you wish to create the HD DVD folder. (You may create such a folder in the browser at this point, if you do not have one prepared.)
j. Click the “Burn” icon in the lower right. If things have gone well, you should see “Total progress: Prepare output content…” and “Detailed progress: Video/Audio multiplexing…” appear with blue progress bars almost immediately. If you see the message “Convert title…” you are in for a long wait and your video may not be compatible. Time to check the settings. and refer to Frequently asked questions bwlow.
k. When the process completes, click “OK.” Your HD DVD folder is ready to burn.

4. Burn your HD DVD folder to a DVD recordable using Nero Burning ROM.

Technique 1 - preferred (works with Nero version 7):

(Contributed by pteittinen.)

a. Launch Nero Burning ROM and select "DVD-ROM (UDF)" on the left side of the screen (you may need to scroll down).
b. Under the "Multisession" tab, select the "No Multisession" radio button.
b. Click on the "UDF" tab.
c. In the "Options" pull-down (or the checkbox under "Advanced," depending on your version of Nero), select "Enable Xbox (TM) compatibility mode."
d. Disregard any warnings and continue.
e. Click "New."
f. Drop the HVDVD_TS folder you just created into the root directory of the compilation (column on the far left).
g. Burn the disc by clicking on the Disc/Lit Match icon at the top.

Technique 2 (works with Nero 6 and 7):

a. Start Notepad or any word processor that allows you to create a .txt file. Leave the document blank (don’t type in anything). Select File>Save and save the blank document as text (.txt format) in a handy place on your hard drive – call it VIDEO_TS.VOB (.txt will be added automatically). Open Windows Explorer and find your new text file. Right click on it and go to rename. Delete the .txt from the end. Ignore the Windows warning and click “Yes.” Your file should now appear as VIDEO_TS.VOB. Special note: if you can't see the .txt extension in Windows Explorer, it probably means you have your computer set to hide file extensions. Open Explorer and select from the menu Tools>Folder Options... . Select the "View" tab. Find the box for "Hide extensions for known file types." and deselect it. Click "OK." You should now be able to see the .txt extension.
b. Start Nero Burning ROM and select the Nero Burning ROM application.
c. In the left column, select DVD Video and click “New.”
d. In the right column, select the drive where the new VIDEO_TS.VOB file is located. Drag that file onto (on top of, not above it) the VIDEO_TS folder in the leftmost column. (Make sure it’s in the VIDEO_TS folder, not in the root directory.)
e. Go back to the rightmost column and find the HD DVD folder you created in Ulead Movie Factory 5. Drag that folder into the leftmost column. Make sure NOT to put it into the VIDEO_TS folder. This folder must reside in the root directory.
f. Load in a recordable DVD (single or double layer, depending on the size of your project). Make sure your DVD burner is selected in Nero (click the “Choose a recorder” button).
g. Click the Disc/Lit Match icon to burn the current compilation. Ignore any warning messages the system displays by clicking “OK.”

Try your new HD DVD in your HD DVD player.

Alternate software:

(Note that some have experienced problems with Womble MPEG2VCR, VideoRedo and HDTVtoMPEG2. HDTVtoMPEG2 is freeware, but has known problems creating compliant MPEG streams with this process. Womble and VideoRedo cost $50 each. Use the trial versions with this process and your system before you buy.)

A variety of other software packages may be used to edit transport stream video files and convert them to MPEG2 program stream. If you have a program that will convert .ts to .mpg, try it. If you have substantial success, please post your results here.

You can find Womble MPEG2VCR here:

MPEG2VCR frame accurate transport stream (.ts) to program stream editing software (http://womble.com/products/index.html)

Using Womble MPEG2VCR (version 3.14) to convert transport stream video files to MPEG2 program stream format:

1. For videos consisting of one large .ts file, select File>Open MPEG Movie and Editor Project… . Select your video file from the browser.
2. For videos consisting of multiple files, hit F6. In the “Clip” box, select the “…” button to bring up a browser window. Select all the ts files that make up your video (either lasso or select/shift select all the files you want to include). Hit “OK.”
3. Edit out the sections of the video you don’t want included. Find the beginning of a section (such as a commercial) you want to exclude and hit the “I” key (for in). Find the end of that section and hit the “O” key (for out). Hit the “X” key (for cut). Repeat until you’ve gotten rid of all the material you don’t want.
4. At the bottom of the MPEG2VCR Clip List window, there are two rows of buttons. Select the button on the second row, third from the right (the icon with a red top). In the box labeled “MPEG Format” select the third radio button from the bottom, labeled “MPEG-2 Program Stream.” In the box labeled “File Name” select the “…” button. In the browser, select where you want to save the new program stream file and type in a name for it. Click “Save.” Click “Save” again and MPEG2VCR will convert and save the file for you.

Using Movie Factory 5 with 720p and 1088i files (a file patch utility by texmex):

Do not be put off by the length of the following instructions. Once you've done this once, it shouldn't add more than about 30 seconds to a minute of additional time to the process of creating HD DVDs. This utility is extremely easy to use. As with the process in general, problems have been reported with some files.

For HDPatch to run, you will need to install the Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0. It can be found here:

Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en)

Download and install the software. You may have to restart your computer when the install completes. Failure to install the Microsoft .Net Framework will result in an error message when you attempt to run HDPatch.

The latest version of HDPatch can be found in the file attachment at the bottom of this post.

What Is HDPatch Used For?

HDPatch can be used, primarily, to solve two problems in the Movie Factory 5/VideoStudio 10+ HD-DVD workflow (other uses are outlined below):

1. 1088 files: many streams from various sources are encoded with a vertical resolution of 1088 (i.e. 1920x1088 or 1280x1088). MF5/VS10+ does not recognize this as a valid HD-DVD resolution and will attempt to re-encode these streams. HDPatch will modify the stream headers to correct the resolution, changing the 1088 to 1080. Once "patched," Movie Factory 5/VideoStudio 10+ should process the stream without re-encoding. And don't worry - you're not losing 8 pixels of video. Those extra 8 pixels are usually gray filler.

To use this feature:

1. Process your .ts, .tp or .m2t file with VideoRedo to convert transport stream to program stream.
2. Run HDPatch. Select your converted program stream video by clicking on the "..." box at the end of the "File:" line. In the browser, find the file you converted.
3. In the menu select Preset>Fix1088.
4. Select the "Patch Stream" button at the bottom.

The patch should be virtually instantaneous. Your file is now ready for normal processing in Movie Factory 5.

2. 720p files: Movie Factory 5 (before version 5.3.0.0) and VideoStudio 10+ do not recognize 720p as a valid HD-DVD format. They will attempt to re-encode 720p files during the authoring process. In order to avoid this, you can use HDPatch to "prep" a 720p file for authoring.

To use this feature:

1. Process your .ts, .tp or .m2t file with VideoRedo to convert transport stream to program stream.
2. Run HDPatch. Select your 720p stream by clicking on the "..." box at the end of the "File:" line. In the browser, find your file.
3. In the menu select Preset>>720p> Pre - patch 720p for MF5/VS10+.
4. Select the "Patch Stream" button at the bottom.

The patch should be virtually instantaneous. Complete the process outlined above to create the HD DVD folder on the hard drive.

Before you can burn the HD DVD to disc, you must patch the .EVO file within the folder.

1. Run HDPatch and click on the "..." box at the end of the "File:" line. In the browser, find the first .EVO file in the HD DVD folder you just created.
2. From the menu, select 720p>Post - Patch EVO/IFO for burn.
3. Select the "Patch Stream" button at the bottom.

The patch should be virtually instantaneous. Your HD DVD folder is now ready for burning in Nero Burning ROM.

Patch the 720 file back to its original settings:

Once you've burned the HD DVD folder to disc, you should return the original MPEG file to its normal settings. Failure to do so may result in the MPEG file not playing correctly.

1. Run HDPatch. Select your 720p stream by clicking on the "..." box at the end of the "File:" line. In the browser, find the original MPEG file.
2. In the menu select Preset>720p>Post - Revert MPEG source to 720p.
3. Select the "Patch Stream" button at the bottom.

Your original 720p MPEG file is restored virtually instantaneously and should play normally.

General MPEG patching:

HDPatch also can be used for general MPEG header patching. Maybe a file is incorrectly flagged as 4:3 when it is actually 16:9. HDPatch can be used to correct the headers in such a file.

Patching files with false bitrate information:

Sometimes video files have inaccurate bitrate information in the header. A file with a stated bitrate of, for example, 65000000 may force a video re-encode in Movie Factory 5. Changing the header information to a realistic number (20000000) often prevents a re-encode. If after normal VideoRedo conversion, Movie Factory 5 insists on re-encoding, try the following:

1. Run HDPatch. Select your MPEG file by clicking on the "..." box at the end of the "File:" line. In the browser, find the file.
2. In the dialog, click in the "Bitrate:" box. Change the excessively high number to one that no OTA or satellite HD signal is likely to exceed (i.e. 20000000).
3. Select the "Patch Stream" button at the bottom.

The patch should be virtually instantaneous. Try using your file again in Movie Factory 5. If all has gone well, it will be accepted without re-encoding.

Frequently Asked Questions/Helpful Suggestions:

Q. The video on my HD DVD player pauses or video freezes up several times during playback and then continues. What can I do to prevent it?

(Contributed by KoolKiwi)

A. Since the HD-A1 correctly interprets MPEG timestamps, any timestamp gaps will result in an apparent freeze (actually a pause) in playback. This can be caused by software editing programs that do not correct timestamp gaps during editing (such as when you edit commercials out of a .ts file with HDTVtoMPEG2).

To avoid this, run the original .ts file through Mpeg2Repair (log only) to check for any timestamp gaps. MPEG2Repair can be found at the bottom of this guide with other helpful tools.

1. On the line labeled "Input File:" select the "..." button. Find the transport stream file that may have timestamp problems.
2. Click the button labeled "Find PID's."
3. Check "Log Errors."
4. On the line labeled "Log File:" click the "..." button. Click "Save." Any timestamp error notations will be saved to a text file in the same directory as the .ts file.
5. Click the "Start" button in the upper right.
6. Check the timestamp of the file you just processed by opening the text file in Notepad or any word processor. Look for a line that reads something like this: "Info: 1.233011 seconds of video timestamp gaps." If any timestamp gaps are found in the log file, the .ts should be processed through VideoRedo's "Quickstream fix" (with output to a new .ts), before using the normal VideoRedo process to convert the resulting .ts to .MPG for use in Movie Factory 5.

To use the VideoRedo "Quickstream Fix" function:

1. From the VideoRedo menu, select Tools>Quickstream Fix... .
2. Under "Input Stream:" click the "..." box and find the stream with the timestamp errors. If necessary, click the "Select Stream" button and find the stream you want to fix. (This should be necessary only if there are multiple videos within the .ts file - i.e. if the file has video subchannels.)
3. Under "Output Stream:" click the "..." box and find the location where you want to save the timestamp corrected video.
4. Click the "Start Quickfix" button.

When the process completes, you can run the new .ts file through VideoRedo as usual for output as a program stream file in Movie Factory 5.

Q. My video files load into Movie Factory 5 extremely slowly. How can I speed up the process?

A. [Update: Using VideoRedo's beta release (version 2.5.2.491) seems to solve many of the slow loading issues (as of late October, 2006). Please follow the instructions above to speed up the loads. Until we have more reports, I'm leaving the following notes here.] No definitive answer is available. Contributors are looking into this issue. Generally speaking, slow file loads occur more often in VideoRedo than Womble's MPEG2VCR (a trial version is available). Try using MPEG2VCR instead. Many users have reported that MPEG2VCR loads are virtually instantaneous, while files created with VideoRedo MAY take a long time to load. MPEG2VCR, however, does seem more prone to creating lip sync errors. At present, the only way to know what your results will be is to experiment. One possible solution to lip sync errors is to use the timestamp repair procedure outlined in the first question above.

Here's another contribution that you may find helpful if you are having problems with Movie Factory 5 accepting your video file as HD DVD compliant (and it insists on re-encoding). This suggestion comes from the_Tom, who uses a Motorola 6200 cable box.

One thing that is necessary in order for MF5 to consider the mpg file you feed it to be "compliant" and thus be willing to skip "converting" it, is for the file's header value for max bitrate to be within the HD-DVD spec. One way to ensure this when using VideoRedo is to set the bit rate to 20Mbps (20000000) in its Save/Options dialog. Doing so may not be necessary in all circumstances, but it should always be "safe" as long as the actual max bitrate in the video is less than that, which it almost certainly will be (the highest actual that I have yet seen was around 18M).

Here's how to do this:

1. Start VideoRedo. Load and edit your transport stream file normally, following the instructions above.
2. In the menu select File>Save Video as... .
3. Select the "Options" button in the lower left of the dialog box.
4. Set the "Bit Rate:" drop down to "20Mbps" and click "OK."
5. Click "Save" to save your file as an MPEG program stream.

Another way of achieving much the same thing is to use HDPatch (as outlined above - repeated here for clarity):

1. Run HDPatch. Select your MPEG file by clicking on the "..." box at the end of the "File:" line. In the browser, find the file.
2. In the dialog, click in the "Bitrate:" box. Change the excessively high number to one that no OTA or satellite HD signal is likely to exceed (i.e. 20000000).
3. Select the "Patch Stream" button at the bottom.

The patch should be virtually instantaneous. Try using your file again in Movie Factory 5. If all has gone well, it will be accepted without re-encoding.

To download the files below, right click and select "Save target as... ." Just left clicking often will not work.

Joseph Clark

07-30-06, 05:36 PM

Here's the guide. I need everyone to take a look and tell me what I missed/got wrong. I'll make changes ASAP.

Brajesh

07-30-06, 06:11 PM

Superb work! Thanks much.

WiFi-Spy

07-30-06, 06:32 PM

wow, mods please make this sticky

robena

07-30-06, 11:38 PM

stevenjw

07-31-06, 02:25 AM

Great job guys! About time we have a sticky. There I've said it again for everyone. I'm not looking to step on toes, but I hope we can keep this thread short with just updates, process improvements, and Q/A to its use only. Read this thread first, give it a try, and if it still doesn't work or you have something to add, THEN post. Otherwise, we'll end up with another very long thread and not a Guide. Thanks.

I've used Nero 5.5.10.0 with both Techniques 1 & 2 to burn the folder to DVD-R without issues. Is there any reason, other than it being older, that this earlier version isn't supposed to work?

I get a long pause and an occasional error message after hitting play and entering the HDV content from the rendered MF5 menu. Is this normal or due to using MF5 to add a menu? I have burnt an .iso file that someone kindly provided with HD test patterns using Nero 5.5 and it works flawlessly. It's not using the default title menu supplied with MF5. Perhaps its due to editing with Womble MPEG2VCR and saving as mpeg2 program stream.

MF5 appears to me to be a much more user friendly tool verses VS10+ (make sure you select HD-DVD) and it's cheaper. I don't have any 5.1 audio yet (R5000 is in the works), just whatever is recording by my Sony HDR-HC1 on HDV tape (DD 2.0?). Based on Ulead literature, it appears that 5.1 support is added with VS10+ (not VS10 or MF5). However, I've remember reading posts in the original thread that indicated 5.1 audio will work using MF5. Can someone please verify that MF5 does or does not work with more than 2 channels?

christefan

07-31-06, 03:28 AM

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 03:44 AM

People should be warned that Womble is extremely sensitive to drops.

If a TS file is not perfect, the audio sync will be lost very easily. VideoRedoPlus uses special techniques to avoid this problem.

I love VideoRedo, but I still can't get it to create MPEGs that will work with this process. I thought I had it working the other day, but it choked after I tried to load a longer file. MPEG2VCR works very consistently for me. Most of my files have been clean, but I haven't noticed any serious lip synch issues with ones that have minor glitches.

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 03:52 AM

suprmallet

07-31-06, 03:56 AM

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 03:58 AM

With some people having problems with Movie Factory 5 how about including instructions for Visual Studio 10? also the Movie Factory compatability box is only up to VideoReDo 445 which is not the currant version, i have a question into them about better performance in the latest versions with Ulead software. Great work sofar-thanks from all of us-steve :)

If someone will post a workflow for VS10+ I'll add it. I think someone did in the original thread, but I'd appreciate a refresher. (I have VS10+, so I can test the workflow easily myself.) As far as VideoRedo is concerned, I have version 445 and my auto web check of the site tells me it's the latest. Which version do you use?

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 04:12 AM

Okay, since this is the official thread, I'll ask this here:

Once you got your finished DVD, when you pop it into the player and it recognizes it as an HD DVD, does it still give you an OSD when you hit play/pause/rewind/ff like it does for a regular DVD?

If by OSD you mean the regular symbols for those functions, such as >, >>, <<<, then yes. And, interestingly, the Toshiba remembers where you leave off in one of these home brew HD DVDs when you hit stop. On the commercial discs, if you hit stop it doesn't remember that stop point when you hit play again.

BTW, "official" doesn't mean too much, except that the topic has become a sticky because of all the interest. The same people will be posting here. In many ways, from my point of view, the most significant contributions to this thread have come from texmex, whose technical expertise has legitimized the thread in a way none of the rest of us have. I'll be contributing soon to his PayPal account (which he posted after requests from some of us for him to do so).

texmex, let me ask you to post it here again, in this new thread. And thanks for all your work in providing the utility for us.

suprmallet

07-31-06, 04:30 AM

Thanks for the answer. I thought it was odd and was almost worried that it was reading it as a regular DVD, even though the display said HD DVD.

pteittinen

07-31-06, 06:24 AM

If someone will post a workflow for VS10+ I'll add it. I think someone did in the original thread, but I'd appreciate a refresher. (I have VS10+, so I can test the workflow easily myself.)
There's not much difference in the flow when using VS10+. When you start the app and find yourself in the main screen with the large preview screen and timeline at the bottom, just open the Tools menu and select Create Disc. From there on the procedure is practically the same.

I say practically, because VS10+'s disc creation offers some options the MF5 does not:

1) Under Project Settings > Change MPEG Settings > Customize... > General you can select Frame Type as Lower Field First, Upper Field First or Frame Based (*a).

2) Under Project Settings > Change MPEG Settings > Customize... > Compression, when you select Audio Format as Dolby Digital audio, you get to choose between 2/0 and 3/2 channels. For 3/2ch the bitrate choices are 384 and 448kbit/s (*b).

(*a): Frame Based means Progressive Scan. I've tested this and it actually works. Another app reported the resulting video stream as progressive instead of interlaced. Toshiba played the stream with some freeze frames every now and then. I've yet to test whether those freeze frames were in the encoded video stream or not. Addendum: if you want to force VS10+ to re-compress your compliant-with-Ulead interlaced content into progressive, you need to untick the "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" box. Or you could feed it something non-compliant, like 1280x720 MPEG4 ASP I shot with a Sanyo HD1.

(*b): I never got MF5 to pass DD5.1 audio through, no matter what. With VS10+ DD5.1 audio is passed untouched when Audio compression specs match the audio specs on the original file. Note: it's perfectly possible the specs don't need to match when the "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" box is ticked, but I haven't had time to test that.

pteittinen

07-31-06, 06:26 AM

As far as VideoRedo is concerned, I have version 445 and my auto web check of the site tells me it's the latest. Which version do you use?
Auto web check doesn't report beta versions. You can find the latest betas in their forum. They're already up to version 2.5.1.481, released July 26th. I've had nothing but success with it.

stevenjw

07-31-06, 11:33 AM

The reason Nero 5 wasn't mentioned was that it wasn't tested or reported on. Good to know it works. We haven't really done much of anything with menus. We should add a section for that later. In my experience, working with menus led to some pretty inconsistent results, but I haven't done a lot of it. MF5 menus are like regular DVD menus, not like the menu overlays we're coming to expect from commercial HD DVDs. Most people don't have any problem maintaining 5.1 audio with MF5, as long as the video isn't re-encoded, but some have. It may depend on the version of MF5 you have.

I never got MF5 to pass DD5.1 audio through, no matter what. With VS10+ DD5.1 audio is passed untouched when Audio compression specs match the audio specs on the original file. Note: it's perfectly possible the specs don't need to match when the "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" box is ticked, but I haven't had time to test that.

Thanks for the replies. I haven't felt the need to spend money on an upgrade from Nero 5.5.10.0, especially since it works and there are free alternatives.

I used the default Menu for creating some of my HDV tapes on DVD-R. I wanted to give the disc a more polished look and didn't know that some were experiencing problems with it. FYI, the menu works fine, complete with working initial frames playing in the preview window. The Toshiba hangs after a few seconds trying to play the HD content. The disc will eventually play, but it's a pain. I'll try my next one without it.

Sounds like there's no definitive word on DD5.1 and some of us aren't lucky enough to have the 5.0.0.0 version of MF5. I'm still using a trial for MF5 and was hoping to save a little over VS10+. I'll try UL10+ next. Looks like I may need to spring for this version just to be safe. Thanks pteittinen for pointing out how to use VS10+. Once you get to the create window, it looks a just like MF5, but with the added options. Note: you need to select HD-DVD from the lower left pull-own vs. DVD since you don't get the initial wizard screen like you do in MF5.

pteittinen

07-31-06, 11:59 AM

Sounds like there's no definitive word on DD5.1 and some of us aren't lucky enough to have the 5.0.0.0 version of MF5.

My MF5 has a version number of 5.0.0001.0 and the About screen lists Dolby (R) Digital 1.0 as well. No DD5.1 regardless :(

Note: you need to select HD-DVD from the lower left pull-own vs. DVD since you don't get the initial wizard screen like you do in MF5.
Yeah, good point. Didn't think to mention that because I select it almost without noticing :)

galaxy_jason

07-31-06, 12:01 PM

Not having much luck, can anyone help?

Tried the posted procedure with a WMV sample (coral reef from the MS site).
Burned to a DVD+RW. If I use the procedure to burn a standard DVD (DVD project in Ulead) it works just fine (Toshiba sees it as a DVD). But if I try an HD-DVD
project in Ulead the Toshiba loads the disc, says "HD-DVD" on the front panel then
stops with 00000,etc on the counter. On screen it says, cannot play disc.

Any ideas? This is with the lates versions (trial) of Ulead and Nero 7.
Thanks!

pteittinen

07-31-06, 12:08 PM

But if I try an HD-DVD
project in Ulead the Toshiba loads the disc, says "HD-DVD" on the front panel then
stops with 00000,etc on the counter. On screen it says, cannot play disc.
I got that, or something similar, repeatedly when messing around with different UDF versions. That would point towards something going wrong with your burn.

galaxy_jason

07-31-06, 12:19 PM

I got that, or something similar, repeatedly when messing around with different UDF versions. That would point towards something going wrong with your burn.

Hmmm, what do you mean by different versions? I used the settings
as outlined in the guide...

Technique 1 - preferred (works with Nero version 7):

One other question that is not clear in the Guide. Should the mpeg
options in MF5 be set to 1920x1080 or 1440x1080 to play on the
Toshiba?

pteittinen

07-31-06, 12:30 PM

Hmmm, what do you mean by different versions? I used the settings as outlined in the guide...
Before I stumbled upon the Xbox compat. method, I tested every UDF file format version available in manual settings. None of them worked, but Toshiba recognized the discs as HD DVD - it just wouldn't play them. Rather much like what you were describing. That made me think that something went wrong with your burn.

One other question that is not clear in the Guide. Should the mpeg
options in MF5 be set to 1920x1080 or 1440x1080 to play on the
Toshiba?
If you have the "Do not convert compliant" box ticked, it shouldn't matter, I think. The options are there in case you're feeding MF5/VS10 something non-compliant, and the application needs to re-compress the file for compliance.

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 12:47 PM

Auto web check doesn't report beta versions. You can find the latest betas in their forum. They're already up to version 2.5.1.481, released July 26th. I've had nothing but success with it.

I just downloaded the beta and am going to give it a try.

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 01:19 PM

No luck with VRD again - 10 minutes + to load in the file, another ten to uncheck the menu button before I gave up and went back to Womble. When I get this type of response, it's always been a waste of time to go on. I usually end up with MF5 rejecting the file as incompatible at the end. I did let it continue a few times, and it took hours to insert chapter stops, then more often than not it reported an incompatilbe stream at the final stage.

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 01:34 PM

I just finished processing the same file through Womble as VideoRedo. It took less time for Womble to convert the file from .ts to MPEG (10+ GBs) and run it through to the final stage of MF5 than it did for the VideoRedo MPEG to load into MF5. One thing I do note about the files is that the VideoRedo MPEG is over 5.2 MB larger than the Womble MPEG. It's Backdraft from Dish and the difference in the edit points in the two programs couldn't have been more than half a dozen frames. I just edited out the start and end segments.

texmex, when you get back from vacation, maybe you could take a look at some MPEGs created by the two programs and check for significant differences?

galaxy_jason

07-31-06, 03:07 PM

If you have the "Do not convert compliant" box ticked, it shouldn't matter, I think. The options are there in case you're feeding MF5/VS10 something non-compliant, and the application needs to re-compress the file for compliance.

Could it be the source? Has anyone successfully converted any of the
microsoft contentshowcase files? (sorry I'm new here so it won't let
me post the direct link)

I don't have access to a .ts or .mpg stream.

pteittinen

07-31-06, 03:19 PM

Could it be the source? Has anyone successfully converted any of the microsoft contentshowcase files? (sorry I'm new here so it won't let
me post the direct link)
Of course it's the source, if you're using some WMV files. Ulead considers only 1920x1080i and 1440x1080i MPEG-2 video as compliant. Everything else it re-encodes with its internal MPEG-2 encoder according to specs set in the Project Settings window.

galaxy_jason

07-31-06, 03:22 PM

Of course it's the source, if you're using some WMV files. Ulead considers only 1920x1080i and 1440x1080i MPEG-2 video as compliant. Everything else it re-encodes with its internal MPEG-2 encoder according to specs set in the Project Settings window.

OK, do you know of any compliant sources I can download to try out. Need
to use something that is known to work first before experimenting with new
material.

Thanks for the help and replies.

Blasst

07-31-06, 03:33 PM

After reading the first thread on this authoring technique, I have a couple of questions still. Since I have a HC3 camera, I can go straight to Ulead since it is already in mpeg2, correct? When I get to Nero to burn, I am not getting the . "In the "Options" pull-down or checkbox, select "Enable Xbox (TM) compatibility mode." The option is not there. Could anyone give a man down some pointers?:) Thanks.

pteittinen

07-31-06, 03:50 PM

OK, do you know of any compliant sources I can download to try out. Need to use something that is known to work first before experimenting with new material.
You could try Ron's test patterns at http://www.w6rz.net/

pteittinen

07-31-06, 03:56 PM

The option is not there. Could anyone give a man down some pointers?:) Thanks.
You visited the Multisession tab and selected No Multisession first, right?

Joe, a brief edit to the guide: it's an Options pull-down, not a checkbox.

RockStrongo

07-31-06, 03:57 PM

Ok.....im experiencing the audio synch issue in Womble and the terribly long load times in MF5 from VideoRedo files. Woof.

Im gonna play around with it some more tonite. So far, ive just had one successful creation in the past 3 or 4 days (since I started this).

Joseph Clark

07-31-06, 04:57 PM

You visited the Multisession tab and selected No Multisession first, right?

Joe, a brief edit to the guide: it's an Options pull-down, not a checkbox.

It's a checkbox in my version. I'll have to upgrade to the latest version.

Blasst

07-31-06, 07:09 PM

pteittinen, I'll go back and check that. Am I correct in going straight to the Ulead program with my HC3 HD camcorder footage?

texmex

07-31-06, 10:22 PM

texmex, when you get back from vacation, maybe you could take a look at some MPEGs created by the two programs and check for significant differences?

Sounds like a plan!

texmex

07-31-06, 10:33 PM

pteittinen, I'll go back and check that. Am I correct in going straight to the Ulead program with my HC3 HD camcorder footage?

I don't have a test stream with me (and I should know this anyway, b/c I have the HC1), but I believe that HDV streams are transport streams. Technically, you may need to convert your HC3 footage to a program stream before importing into Ulead, but others have reported limited success pulling in transport streams. Usually it's as simple as changing the extension to "*.mpg". If Ulead doesn't like your HDV streams, convert them to program streams using Womble or VideoRedo.

galaxy_jason

08-01-06, 12:07 AM

You could try Ron's test patterns at http://www.w6rz.net/

OK, tried that, no luck. Same problem. I am about 99.9% sure I am doing everything right. Followed each step.

Can I pay someone a couple of bucks for a known good disc. That would
rule out my player (no problems with it so far and I am pretty sure the
firmware is up to date.)

cal87

08-01-06, 12:56 AM

Quick question.

How do you know for sure that MF5 is keeping a DD5.1 soundtrack or converting it to DD2.0?

Joseph Clark

08-01-06, 02:14 AM

Sounds like a plan!

Great. Have we definitely decided on a way to upload sample files to you?

Also, please put your PayPal info into the next post. I want to express my gratitude for your generosity here in helping with these issues. It's much appreciated.

Joseph Clark

08-01-06, 02:35 AM

Quick question.

How do you know for sure that MF5 is keeping a DD5.1 soundtrack or converting it to DD2.0?

Receivers often report 5.1 when they play it. The other way is just to listen to a file you know has 5.1 and note whether the sound is coming from the appropriate places. If you can find it, the InHD test patterns also contain 5.1 audio, which you can simply use to find out if the speakers are outputting the correct sound. I actually have an HD DVD of the InHD and HDNet test patterns (1.35 GB). I'm just not sure about the legality of posting it.

Brajesh

08-01-06, 09:30 AM

Tried my first 720p TS file last night... When I open it with MPEG2VCR, it takes a long time to load & splits the movie over many segments. I get a bunch of windows with segments of the movie. Is this normal for a 720p TS file? Should I be doing something different? Thanks.

RockStrongo

08-01-06, 09:41 AM

I think I got my issue to work. First, I was having an issue with MPEG2VCR getting out of sync with the audio. With VideoRedo, it was making files that wouldnt load in MF5.

So, I added a step. First, I run through VideoRedo, if it wont load in MF5, I run it through MPEG2VCR and then it seems to work fine. I havent had the audio sync issue yet.

It sucks that you have to add a step, but it seems to work. I tried VideoRedo's quickstream fix also, but the results werent as good as running it through MPEG2VCR.

RockStrongo

08-01-06, 09:45 AM

Has anyone gotten a TS that has multiple audio sources? I have one that says it has 2. How can I strip one off?

cal87

08-01-06, 09:48 AM

Has anyone gotten a TS that has multiple audio sources? I have one that says it has 2. How can I strip one off?

You can run it through HDTVtoMPEG2 and check or check off which audio you want.

RockStrongo

08-01-06, 09:54 AM

You can run it through HDTVtoMPEG2 and check or check off which audio you want.

Awesome....I havent seen these with multiple audio tracks yet, so I wasnt sure.

Gracias.

christefan

08-01-06, 12:23 PM

Joseph Clark

08-01-06, 01:13 PM

............If someone will post a workflow for VS10+ I'll add it. I think someone did in the original thread, but I'd appreciate a refresher. (I have VS10+, so I can test the workflow easily myself.) As far as VideoRedo is concerned, I have version 445 and my auto web check of the site tells me it's the latest. Which version do you use?

I've been using version 475 buy they're up to 382 Beta at this point, been talking to a support person over there and they report no problems working with VideoReDo files to Ulead MF5 and should be ok with VS10 also, link to the beta versions is listed below-steve

http://www.videoredo.net/beta/

I'd really like to get to the bottom of my problem with VideoRedo. I downloaded 481 yesterday, but had no luck with it, either. Now I see 482 is up. I'll try it and see if it works any better. As I reported yesterday, with 481 I got exactly the same results as earlier versions. The workflow goes from water to mollasses. I didn't even let it go after about half an hour, since that pace for my workflow just isn't something I can live with. With Womble, the water flows again, with exactly the same original .ts file and the same edit points.

Are those of you who are having success with VideoRedo setting parameters differently in Options... ? If so, please share. I always answer yes during the install to the question about using Movie Factory. I'm going to go to the VideoRedo site and report my problems. Maybe I just have a strange combination of software that's interfering with VideoRedo files in MF5.

cal87

08-01-06, 05:07 PM

Receivers often report 5.1 when they play it. The other way is just to listen to a file you know has 5.1 and note whether the sound is coming from the appropriate places. If you can find it, the InHD test patterns also contain 5.1 audio, which you can simply use to find out if the speakers are outputting the correct sound. I actually have an HD DVD of the InHD and HDNet test patterns (1.35 GB). I'm just not sure about the legality of posting it.

I'm pretty sure I'm hearing 5.1 sound, but my receiver does not specify. I just wanted to verify somehow. I forgot about the INHD - I have that and will try it out.

Is it proper to assume that if MY version of MF5 keeps the 5.1 audio on this disc, that it would apply to all of my compilations? Or might certain titles be converted to 2.0? Just trying to decide if I need to switch to VS10+.

RockStrongo

08-01-06, 06:32 PM

For AVI sources, do I just convert it to a transport stream first or can I go directly to mpeg2?

Joseph Clark

08-01-06, 06:39 PM

I'm pretty sure I'm hearing 5.1 sound, but my receiver does not specify. I just wanted to verify somehow. I forgot about the INHD - I have that and will try it out.

Is it proper to assume that if MY version of MF5 keeps the 5.1 audio on this disc, that it would apply to all of my compilations? Or might certain titles be converted to 2.0? Just trying to decide if I need to switch to VS10+.

As long as the video doesn't re-encode, your audio should be retained as 5.1. If it re-encodes, it downconverts it to 2.0.

Joseph Clark

08-01-06, 06:40 PM

For AVI sources, do I just convert it to a transport stream first or can I go directly to mpeg2?

Skip the .ts step if you can. It's unnecessary. All you need is the MPEG.

Brajesh

08-01-06, 08:01 PM

So, does anyone know what to do if opening a TS file in MPEG-VCR results in many segments of a movie? Is there a way to open it as one piece?

RockStrongo

08-01-06, 08:34 PM

Ok....I tried feeding the avi into MF5 but when it plays, it shows up as green....do I need to convert it to mpeg2 first? It says its compression is xvid mpeg4 24bits 1920x800.

Any ideas on what I need to do to get this in the proper format?

Joseph Clark

08-01-06, 10:25 PM

So, does anyone know what to do if opening a TS file in MPEG-VCR results in many segments of a movie? Is there a way to open it as one piece?

Strange. That's never happened to me. Don't know if it will work, but try this. When you open the file, do it in the Clip List. Hit f6 after entering MPEG2VCR and select the file. Then hit OK. It should come up as a single file in MPEG2VCR for you to edit.

RockStrongo

08-02-06, 10:28 AM

Anyone tried this beta software yet??

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoderse/default.aspx

galaxy_jason

08-02-06, 11:39 AM

OK, tried that, no luck. Same problem. I am about 99.9% sure I am doing everything right. Followed each step.

Can I pay someone a couple of bucks for a known good disc. That would
rule out my player (no problems with it so far and I am pretty sure the
firmware is up to date.)

Bump, anyone willing to help :)

Hyrax

08-02-06, 11:45 AM

Anyone tried this beta software yet??

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoderse/default.aspx
Someone mentioned in the other thread. All I remember was that it is still definitely Beta software - there were rumors of it taking 24 hours to encode a movie.

Along those lines I read a review of the Falcon-NW computer based on the Core 2 Duo Extreme chip. They said that it took their Pentium 4 machine 4 hours to encode a 8 GB DVD with Nero Recode. It took 12 minutes on the Core 2 Duo machine. I thought that sounded like an upgrade I may need to make.

RockStrongo

08-02-06, 11:51 AM

Skip the .ts step if you can. It's unnecessary. All you need is the MPEG.

Anyone know of a good program to convert AVI to MPEG2? I wanna do this BEFORE opening it in Ulead. That said, how good is Ulead's encoding??

I tried using the avi in Ulead and created an iso with hd folders (im sure it reencoded it as mpeg2), BUT it had no sound. I thought the picture didnt really look as good as the avi.

The avi in question is xvid mpeg4 1920x800 with one ac3 and one DTS track.

cal87

08-02-06, 01:15 PM

Anyone know of a good program to convert AVI to MPEG2? I wanna do this BEFORE opening it in Ulead. That said, how good is Ulead's encoding??

I tried using the avi in Ulead and created an iso with hd folders (im sure it reencoded it as mpeg2), BUT it had no sound. I thought the picture didnt really look as good as the avi.

The avi in question is xvid mpeg4 1920x800 with one ac3 and one DTS track.

You might try ProCoder. It has a pretty easy to use interface, especially using the wizard.

I just used it to convert a 720p wmv file. Finally got a good quality result (as opposed to using Ulead or other format converters). However, it took 12 hours to do a 2-pass VBR encode.

RockStrongo

08-02-06, 01:43 PM

You might try ProCoder. It has a pretty easy to use interface, especially using the wizard.

I just used it to convert a 720p wmv file. Finally got a good quality result (as opposed to using Ulead or other format converters). However, it took 12 hours to do a 2-pass VBR encode.

Ouch....this AVI is almost 20gb (and its just the first of 3 ;)), so I bet it will take a looooong time to encode.

I might have to install these apps on my second computer and just let it run.

EDIT - Im hoping when I remove the AC3 track with VirtualDub that it will be under 16gb so I can put it on 2 dl dvd-rs.

Brajesh

08-03-06, 08:10 PM

Don't know if this has been posted already, but you guys can get $5 off when buying Ulead's DVD Movie Factory 5 using the coupon code MONKEY.

DigitalfreakNYC

08-04-06, 06:46 PM

Is there an explicit guide to capturing TS streams through firewire?

KoolKiwi

08-05-06, 05:02 AM

Joseph: Some further feedback on this process.

I had a few HD DVD homebrew discs that were appearing to freeze on HD-A1 playback. However, what was actually happening was that the mpeg file had timestamp gaps, and the HD-A1 faithfully (and correctly) follows the timestamp information and basically freezes the screen image, and pauses, for the duration of the timestamp gap.

ie. When the HD-A1 "freezes" on playback, if you wait long enough it will continue, or, if you press fast-forward momentarily then play, you will note the elapsed time display jumps forward (the duraction of the timestamp gap) when play continues.

Mpeg2Repair does a good job of identifying the timestamp gaps in it's log, but does not repair them! From the best I can tell, these timestamp gaps appear to most commonly be created when the wrong tools are used to cut out adverts!

To repair them I pass the .TS stream through the VideoRedo "Quickstream fix" tool, and output as a new .TS file. This seems to be the best tool around for fixing timestamp gap issues

With the resulting .TS, the timestamp gaps are now fixed (which can be verified by running Mpeg2Repair log option only, again).

I then run the .TS through Mpeg2VCR as per normal to create the MF5 compliant .MPG file.

Note that when I tried to use VideoRedo to fix the timestamp gaps and convert directly to .MPG, I ended up with the problem of MF5 taking ages to load the .MPG file! Using Mpeg2VCR appears to avoid this problem (at least with the files I have tested).

In summary...

As the HD-A1 correctly interprets the timestamps, any timestamp gaps will result in an apparent freeze (actually a pause) in playback.

To avoid this, run the original .TS through Mpeg2Repair (log only) to check for any timestamp gaps.

If any timestamp gaps are found, the .TS should be processed through VideoRedo's "Quickstream fix" (with output to a new .TS), before using the normal Mpeg2VCR process to convert the resulting .TS to .MPG for MF5.

Hope the above info is of assistance to someone. :)

Greg

Joe Q

08-05-06, 08:50 AM

Of course it's the source, if you're using some WMV files. Ulead considers only 1920x1080i and 1440x1080i MPEG-2 video as compliant. Everything else it re-encodes with its internal MPEG-2 encoder according to specs set in the Project Settings window.

I own the "Plasma Window" DVD ROM which says "Plasmaquarian HDTV 60Min" on the label.

Of course it plays on a PC but I want to be able to have it play on my new Toshiba.

I pulled the .WMV files off of the DVD and put on my hard disk.

The properties of the WMV file show them to be 1280 x 720
See enclosed file for full file description.

I am trying to burn a DVD using the above procedure BUT I skipped the conversion part and let Ulead do the encoding from WMV to MPEG.
It took a while to convert as warned.

I could not make a DVD with Nero 6 because it said it failed the compatability test as it was missing some .ts files in the Video_ts directory.

What am I doing wrong?

Another question:

The disc also has all the .wmv clips in one big 2 Gbyte file.
Why is it that Ulead,in HD DVD mode, shows that as a 10 Gig file when I load it into the program?

Thanks

cal87

08-05-06, 10:19 AM

RAFABAMAD

08-05-06, 11:56 AM

KoolKiwi

08-05-06, 06:13 PM

... What I do is edit the files in Mpeg2VCR by moving backwards from the end of the file using the up arrow key. When it reaches the problem spots it will stop and refuses to backup using the up arrow key. Mark this point as an end edit. Press the back arrow key once and it will jump to the beginning of the time gap. Mark this as the beginning edit and then cut. Mpeg2VCR automatically corrects the timestamp. Thanks Robert. However, I'm not having much luck with this method. When I use the up arrow, and it comes to a stop, Mpeg2VCR stops responding.
ie. I just get an egg timer over the end edit button, and the hard drive is hammering! After waiting for awhile I end up having to end the application (not responding).

I am using the June 2006 update for Mpeg2VCR. It may just be a problem with the particular clip I am trying to remove the timestamp gaps from I imagine, but otherwise it is looking like I will need to register VideoRedo as well, just so I can use the Quickstream fix tool for timestamp gap fixes.

I suppose for longer clips, using the Quickstream fix approach will still be a lot easier than stepping all the way through with the up arrow etc, but at the cost of $50 for registering it.

Greg

cal87

08-05-06, 08:17 PM

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a hold of the WinDVD HD software, or is it only available bundled with the Toshiba laptop?

Joseph Clark

08-05-06, 11:26 PM

Thanks Robert. However, I'm not having much luck with this method. When I use the up arrow, and it comes to a stop, Mpeg2VCR stops responding.
ie. I just get an egg timer over the end edit button, and the hard drive is hammering! After waiting for awhile I end up having to end the application (not responding).

I am using the June 2006 update for Mpeg2VCR. It may just be a problem with the particular clip I am trying to remove the timestamp gaps from I imagine, but otherwise it is looking like I will need to register VideoRedo as well, just so I can use the Quickstream fix tool for timestamp gap fixes.

I suppose for longer clips, using the Quickstream fix approach will still be a lot easier than stepping all the way through with the up arrow etc, but at the cost of $50 for registering it.

Greg

I do the same thing basically with MPEG2VCR, except that I move the play head back and forth. The up arrow moves you in 5 second increments - kinda slow. The play head method is faster, and the giveaway for a timestamp error is that the play head stops moving - just sort of stutters as your finger continues to move. I stop, use the left and right arrows to determine an in or out point and edit around that in MPEG2VCR That's how I salvaged all my episodes of Battlestar Galactica edited in HDTVtoMPEG2. Those files wouldn't process for me in MF5. After I edited out the offending edit points, they worked just fine. I always left a little commercial in the show, rather than trimming into fade ins and outs, so I just cut out those little snippets of commercial with MPEG2VCR and I didn't do any jump cuts into scenes.

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll be updating the guide tomorrow with this new info. I'm thinking of putting it in the form of FAQ. Any other input is much appreciated. I'll also be adding the section on VideoStudio 10+ workflow.

Joseph Clark

08-05-06, 11:28 PM

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a hold of the WinDVD HD software, or is it only available bundled with the Toshiba laptop?

I read somewhere that the WinDVD software that supports HD DVD wouldn't be generally available until November. Probably best, since I also read it was buggy in the Toshiba laptop. Think I got that from the WinDVD website.

Joseph Clark

08-05-06, 11:30 PM

KoolKiwi

08-06-06, 02:13 AM

I do the same thing basically with MPEG2VCR, except that I move the play head back and forth. The up arrow moves you in 5 second increments - kinda slow. The play head method is faster, and the giveaway for a timestamp error is that the play head stops moving - just sort of stutters as your finger continues to move. I stop, use the left and right arrows to determine an in or out point and edit around that in MPEG2VCR That's how I salvaged all my episodes of Battlestar Galactica edited in HDTVtoMPEG2. Those files wouldn't process for me in MF5...Hi Joseph. A bit of a coincidence, the files I am playing with are also Battlestar Galactica. Specifically S2 E10 & E15.

Both of these I had mastered to HD DVD without any problems using Mpeg2VCR to convert the entire .TS to .MPG for MF5. But when I viewed them, that was when I noted several video freezes / pauses during playback (all other eps were OK).

I have now re-converted both eps, by:

1. Confirming via Mpeg2Repair (log only) that there were indeed long timestamp gaps in original .TS files for these eps.

2. Running the original .TS through VideoRedo "Quickstream fix" with .TS output.

3. Re-confirming via Mpeg2Repair (log only) that there were now no timestamp gaps in the new .TS files.

4. Converting the .TS to .MPG for MF5, via Mpeg2VCR.

5. Confirmed that both new HD DVD discs now play flawlessly, with no freeze / pauses, and no lipsync issues etc. :)

Notes:

a. For both eps, if I converted to .MPG via VideoRedo, the resulting .MPG files would freeze MF5 when trying to open the files (when converted via Mpeg2VCR, they imported into MF5 immediately). Note: I had never personally experienced this problem before, as I normally use Mpeg2VCR for the .MPG conversion.

b. With both eps, if I tried to step back through Mpeg2VCR timeline to try and manually edit out the timestamp gaps, Mpeg2VCR would stop responding at the point where I wanted to mark an end edit point (based on your and Roberts comments, I assume this is not however a problem with all "timestamp gap" source files).

c. Although unrelated, it is worth mentioning that before importing the resulting .MPG into MF5, I also passed these eps through DVDPatcher to convert the frames from 1280x1088 to 1280x1080. MF5 therefore did no re-encoding!

Summary:

Although I understand that you might certainly be able to manually identify and edit out each timestamp gap using Mpeg2VCR (with some .TS streams), this did not work for me on these particular .TS files. I would also comment that using the "Quickstream fix" tool, is a very straightforward and seemingly effective solution for this timestamp gap issue (although it involves another $50 piece of shareware - but I don't mind paying for useful software).

I am now making a practice of passing all .TS streams (that I intend to convert to HD DVD), through the logging only option of Mpeg2Repair (ie. no repair). This is also useful for confirming average bitrate, and the overall condition of the .TS file.

If Mpeg2Repair identifies any timestamp gaps, I then pass the .TS file through the "Quickstream fix" tool (to a .TS output file), before using Mpeg2VCR for .TS to .MPG conversion (and any other editing I wish to do).

Greg

Joseph Clark

08-06-06, 02:22 AM

Hi Joseph. A bit of a coincidence, the files I am playing with are also Battlestar Galactica. Specifically S2 E10 & E15.

Both of these I had mastered to HD DVD without any problems using Mpeg2VCR to convert the entire .TS to .MPG for MF5. But when I viewed them, that was when I noted several video freezes / pauses during playback (all other eps were OK).

I have now re-converted both eps, by:

1. Confirming via Mpeg2Repair (log only) that there were indeed long timestamp gaps in original .TS files for these eps.

2. Running the original .TS through VideoRedo "Quickstream fix" with .TS output.

3. Re-confirming via Mpeg2Repair (log only) that there were now no timestamp gaps in the new .TS files.

4. Converting the .TS to .MPG for MF5, via Mpeg2VCR.

5. Confirmed that both new HD DVD discs now play flawlessly, with no freeze / pauses, and no lipsync issues etc. :)

Notes:

a. For both eps, if I converted to .MPG via VideoRedo, the resulting .MPG files would freeze MF5 when trying to open the files (when converted via Mpeg2VCR, they imported into MF5 immediately). Note: I had never personally experienced this problem before, as I normally use Mpeg2VCR for the .MPG conversion.

b. With both eps, if I tried to step back through Mpeg2VCR timeline to try and manually edit out the timestamp gaps, Mpeg2VCR would stop responding at the point where I wanted to mark an end edit point (based on your and Roberts comments, I assume this is not however a problem with all "timestamp gap" source files).

c. Although unrelated, it is worth mentioning that before importing the resulting .MPG into MF5, I also passed these eps through DVDPatcher to convert the frames from 1280x1088 to 1280x1080. MF5 therefore did no re-encoding!

Summary:

Although I understand that you might certainly be able to manually identify and edit out each timestamp gap using Mpeg2VCR (with some .TS streams), this did not work for me on these particular .TS files. I would also comment that using the "Quickstream fix" tool, is a very straightforward and seemingly effective solution for this timestamp gap issue (although it involves another $50 piece of shareware - but I don't mind paying for useful software).

I am now making a practice of passing all .TS streams (that I intend to convert to HD DVD), through the logging only option of Mpeg2Repair (ie. no repair). This is also useful for confirming average bitrate, and the overall condition of the .TS file.

If Mpeg2Repair identifies any timestamp gaps, I then pass the .TS file through the "Quickstream fix" tool (to a .TS output file), before using Mpeg2VCR for .TS to .MPG conversion (and any other editing I wish to do).

Greg

Lots of good information here. Thanks. I've had some really tough files that didn't want to cooperate with the MF5 process. I think your suggestons might solve some of those problems.

Joe Q

08-06-06, 11:51 AM

Joe Q

Ulead is converting the wmv file into a 1080i MPEG2 file, resulting in the larger file size.
I have found the Ulead encoding poor. I have had good results using ProCoder to encode these files into 720p MPEG2 and use the methods described here to author with Ulead. This process takes quite a long time. There are other encoding tools which will vary with speed and quality.

Thank you for that info.

Can you recommend another encoder that has an eval version rather than Procoder?

Procoder 2 costs around $600 and Procoder Express does NOT have an eval download to try (it costs $60)

I have so many programs that I have bought over the years that are merely sitting on my computer uninstalled because I found they were not very usefull.

Thanks

cal87

08-06-06, 05:11 PM

Thank you for that info.

Can you recommend another encoder that has an eval version rather than Procoder?

Procoder 2 costs around $600 and Procoder Express does NOT have an eval download to try (it costs $60)

I have so many programs that I have bought over the years that are merely sitting on my computer uninstalled because I found they were not very usefull.

Thanks

You could try TMPGEnc Xpress. It has a trial version, I believe, and supposedly the new versions handle HD. I have not tried it myself.

christefan

08-07-06, 01:06 AM

Joseph Clark

08-07-06, 02:30 AM

Brajesh

08-07-06, 09:48 AM

Greg, you just resolved one of my issues. I had some TS files, when opened in MPEG-VCR, would take a long time to load and load as many segments. I could use the clipboard viewer to open it as one file, but processing it would crash MPEG-VCR. Doing the "Quickstream fix" to the TS file in VideoRedo resolved this. Thanks.

Brajesh

08-07-06, 09:50 AM

christefan

08-07-06, 11:47 AM

By the way, I just signed up with E*. Is there a list somewhere of which hi-def channels are mpeg2 vs. mpeg4? Also, I'd read that some mpeg4 were really mpeg2 w/mpeg4 headers only. For these, is there a way to correct the headers to mpeg2?

The only channels you should find in MPEG4 would be StarzHD and your local HD from satellite position 129 (i'm forgetting to include NGHD and MFLHD but i figured you were interested in movie channels), i was hoping that pulling StarzHD off of 61.5 might get around the MPEG4 issue but it doesn't they only seem to be uplinking that channel in MPEG4, the older receivers won't see that channel either just the new series that will do either codec-steve :confused:

christefan

08-08-06, 03:13 AM

I'm throwing this out as a general performance question and any help would be appreciated. I have a r5000 system with dish receivers and then edit the streams with videoredo. performance in visual studio 10 to generate the hd-dvd files is fine if i'm cutting a segment less then 4.7gb---the files open sort of quickly in vs10, will auto chapter and then save pretty fast. But if i try the same thing with files between 7-8.3gb the load times are huge,they usually won't auto chapter and it's just not really workable to spend that much time with the app (vs10) plodding along.
I've tried mpeg2vcr to convert ts to mpeg (instead of doing it with videoredo) to see if compatability to vs10 is better that way and while it does seem to improve the load times for getting a file up in vs10 if i generate a hd-dvd file and then burn it the audio match is so bad it's not usable or watchable and i don't have these kind of audio problems with smaller files done directly with videoredo for editing and conversion and then vs10 to generate the hddvd file.
i don't want to use MF5 because i would like to preserve the better audio and some people have been complaining about the audio being downrezed by MF5 to 2.0 from 5:1---
The computer isn't an issue here i have 2 opteron 254s with 2 gb of ram and a good video card---anyone have any ideas or can report similar problems and a process or method they used to get better performance? thanks folks, steve :eek:

hdtv_moron

08-08-06, 10:39 PM

OK. I bought Womble, MF5, and Nero. I have the Toshiba A1 and updated it with firmware v 1.4. It played Apollo 13 HDDVD and Any Given Sunday (Regular DVD) with no problems.

I had HDV source material (captured with HDV split) and Jay Leno Material (captured from Hipix).

I burned 2 different brands of DVD-R and a DVD+RW.

None of it worked.

MF5 did the conversions in less than a few minutes so I know there was no re-rendering.

I'll peruse the original thread. I suspect there is something missing from these instructions since I followed them to the last letter with no apparent issues (other than the DVDs I created don't work in the Toshiba).

Update:

I had no problems burning and running the test DVD (on the same DVD-R disc I've been trying to use) iso file from here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=707769

So the issue is clearly with MF5 and/or Womble. I started looking into the original thread. Lots of interesting info there that seems to be missing from the instructions in this thread. I imagine I'll find the answer there. Maybe that's the thread that should be a sticky instead of this one. Maybe the moderator should switch, no?

texmex

08-09-06, 12:40 AM

So the issue is clearly with MF5 and/or Womble. I started looking into the original thread. Lots of interesting info there that seems to be missing from the instructions in this thread. I imagine I'll find the answer there. Maybe that's the thread that should be a sticky instead of this one. Maybe the moderator should switch, no?

Actually, it sounds like the problem wasn't with MF5 or Womble - if MF5 authored the DVD without re-encoding, then the problem is probably related to the burn (Nero). Which settings did you use to burn the DVD in Nero and what exactly do you see when you insert the disk into the A1?

galaxy_jason

08-09-06, 04:30 AM

hdtv_moron

08-09-06, 08:31 AM

Actually, it sounds like the problem wasn't with MF5 or Womble - if MF5 authored the DVD without re-encoding, then the problem is probably related to the burn (Nero). Which settings did you use to burn the DVD in Nero and what exactly do you see when you insert the disk into the A1?

It's certainly possible it is Nero.

The A1 displays a little purple window with white lettering: "Cannot Play the Disc" and the front of the A1 displays "ERROR."

For Nero I tried both "techniques" in the first post. I tried the Nero technique #1 using the DVD-ROM (UDF) option with XBOX compatibility set. No luck.

I noticed the demo patterns disk had 3 folders, AUDIO_TS, VIDEO_TS and HVDVD_TS. MF5 only produced the HVDVD_TS folder. So I then tried technique #2 (DVD-Video option). Created the folders and files as recommended, etc. I also tried technique #2 with DVD-ROM (UDF) but the result was no different.

I am sure I missed something or there is a little detail in the instructions that should be there but isn't. Why would Nero technique#1 not require the addition of the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders since MF5 does not create them?

I'll keep trying. Once I figure it out I'll post.

Thanks for responding texmex.

Bitwize

08-09-06, 08:42 AM

Anyone tried authoring The Fifth Element? the 1080i, DD 5.1 version. MF5 keeps wanting to convert it. Would be nice transferring this one as it's a blu-ray release.

Nathan_R

08-09-06, 08:59 AM

Anyone tried authoring The Fifth Element? the 1080i, DD 5.1 version. MF5 keeps wanting to convert it. Would be nice transferring this one as it's a blu-ray release.

I authored my 1080i DD2.0 dvhs copy of The Fifth Element to HD DVD yesterday.

Hyrax

08-09-06, 09:01 AM

Actually, it sounds like the problem wasn't with MF5 or Womble - if MF5 authored the DVD without re-encoding, then the problem is probably related to the burn (Nero). Which settings did you use to burn the DVD in Nero and what exactly do you see when you insert the disk into the A1?
I burned one bad disk and it gave the exact same error. I used MF5's 'create image' option (which is not available in current versions) and had Nero burn the image file.

Based on this, I also believe that the problem is in the burning stage. It could either be Nero, the media, or it could be your DVD burner. It seems like you've tried everything in Nero and I assume you're using a good brand of media (have you tried single layer media?). That means that perhaps the problem is your DVD burner.

You can get a Nec 3550A burner from NewEgg for about $31 (currently with free shipping). THis is the same burner I'm using and it works well - you might want to try it.

pteittinen

08-09-06, 09:17 AM

I am having the same problem as stated in a previous thread. I have tried
everyting, with no luck. The Toshiba says "HD DVD" then 00000, then
Error.
Like I posted in the other thread, that's what kept happening to me when I was going through all the manual UDF options in Nero. No matter which UDF version I selected, the disc behaved exactly like you describe. Xbox Compatibility solved the problem.

pteittinen

08-09-06, 09:20 AM

You can get a Nec 3550A burner from NewEgg for about $31 (currently with free shipping).
Ridiculously cheap, and pretty much *the* burner to get.

Everyone is aware that Nero is buggy as hell? I recently switched from the absolute latest version to Roxio RecordNow 8, because Nero started messing up my regular data back-ups.

Before anyone asks: no, I haven't tried burning HD DVDs with Roxio. It has no Xbox Compatibility option, by the way.

galaxy_jason

08-09-06, 10:16 AM

Like I posted in the other thread, that's what kept happening to me when I was going through all the manual UDF options in Nero. No matter which UDF version I selected, the disc behaved exactly like you describe. Xbox Compatibility solved the problem.

Yes, I have tried that. Same results, "can't read disc". I have done the
procedure exactly. I have also done the procedure with the MF5 project
set to DVD instead of HD DVD and it play just fine as a DVD.

Can somebody pleeease send a disc. If there is a player compatibilty
problem then it needs to be in the instructions.

Joseph Clark

08-09-06, 11:09 AM

Ridiculously cheap, and pretty much *the* burner to get.

Everyone is aware that Nero is buggy as hell? I recently switched from the absolute latest version to Roxio RecordNow 8, because Nero started messing up my regular data back-ups.

Before anyone asks: no, I haven't tried burning HD DVDs with Roxio. It has no Xbox Compatibility option, by the way.

I've had lots of trouble lately with Nero data backups. Lots of errors and failed burns. I get a lot of "Could not perform end of disc" errors. I wasn't getting those before. Have others been experiencing this?

Joseph Clark

08-09-06, 11:11 AM

Yes, I have tried that. Same results, "can't read disc". I have done the
procedure exactly. I have also done the procedure with the MF5 project
set to DVD instead of HD DVD and it play just fine as a DVD.

Can somebody pleeease send a disc. If there is a player compatibilty
problem then it needs to be in the instructions.

PM me with your address and I'll send you a disc of some of my HDV footage that's been burned to HD DVD. (If I can get Nero to do the copy. Like I just said, I'm starting to have a LOT of bad burns with Nero.)

Joseph Clark

08-09-06, 11:15 AM

Anyone tried authoring The Fifth Element? the 1080i, DD 5.1 version. MF5 keeps wanting to convert it. Would be nice transferring this one as it's a blu-ray release.

And chances are your copy is as good as or better than the Blu-ray version of TFE. Greg Rogers recently reviewed the Marantz VP-11S projector in Wide Screen Review, and he did a sidebar on the Samsung Blu-ray player and TFE. He says it is barely distinguishable from the Superbit version on regular DVD.

pteittinen

08-09-06, 11:18 AM

I've had lots of trouble lately with Nero data backups. Lots of errors and failed burns. I get a lot of "Could not perform end of disc" errors. I wasn't getting those before. Have others been experiencing this?
Yup.

pteittinen

08-09-06, 11:42 AM

How do MF5/VS10 know what the maximum bitrate of an imported MPEG2 file is? I started testing something by saving a TS clip with H2M, then running it through VRD's QuickFix, then exporting the fixed clip into MPEG2 PS. I noticed VRD window listing the clip's average bitrate as 11.93mbit/s. When I opened the clip into VS10 and clicked the "i" icon for information, I noticed this:

Data rate: Variable bit rate (Max. 12443 kbps)

Now, my theory of why some files take forever to open into MF5/VS10: The application needs to scan through the entire file searching for bitrate peaks and locating the highest one. Why would it do that? There's a bitrate limit set by the application itself, and it needs to know the limit won't get exceeded.

Why do some files open quicker? Perhaps MPEG2 format allows listing both average AND maximum bitrate in first few headers of the stream - thus negating the need for scanning the entire file by MF5/VS10. Perhaps not all MPEG2 editing applications save both these values in the headers.

Texmex, any thoughts on this?

Further ruminations on the matter: Could it be that CBR (or VBR with padding to appear CBR) files load much more quickly, because Ulead has no need to scan the file for max bitrate? Does anyone have both CBR and VBR files on hand to test this?

Update:

I tried to test the hypothesis by using TMPGEnc Plus to encode a 1920x1080p24 VBR clip into a Elementary Stream (video only) 1920x1080p24 CBR @ 24mbit/s.

VS10+ opens the resulting file (447MB) in less than a second. No mention of VBR anywhere; info window lists bitrate as 24 000, like it should.

I then tried importing the original (converted from TS to MPEG2 PS with VRD) 300MB MPEG2 VBR (with DD5.1 audio) file. Whoosh! Less than a second as well. No hesitation. Info lists it as having Variable Bitrate (max 36000kbps).

So much for that theory.

pteittinen

08-09-06, 01:56 PM

Good news folks!

I did a couple of test burns with Roxio 8 and both worked like a charm!

In the first attached jpg you see the main window. I selected Data > Data Disc as the project type. Then to Options, the button for which is in the lower right hand corner.

Options > Data > Advanced. There you can set the File System type. For my first test, I left Mode to Mode 1 and selected ISO Level 2 (212 character file names) as the File System. Disc played in my XA1 (with FW 1.2 no less) without problems.

For the second burn, I switched to Mode 2 XA (just for kicks) and set the File System to ISO+Joliet+UDF (106 character file names). To my surprise, this disc played without problems as well!

I have a hunch (need to test this at some point) that Mode 1 with ISO+Joliet+UDF would've worked just as well.

I suggest dumping Nero. I've been using Roxio for my data backups for a while now, and since it works with HD DVD, I see no reason to go back to Nero.

Oh, and before I forget. Roxio is owned by Sonic Solutions, the company which makes authoring tools for both HD DVD and BD camps.

pteittinen

08-09-06, 02:07 PM

I have a hunch (need to test this at some point) that Mode 1 with ISO+Joliet+UDF would've worked just as well.
My hunch was correct. Mode 1 with ISO+Joliet+UDF File System works perfectly.

hdtv_moron

08-09-06, 04:02 PM

It's certainly possible it is Nero.

The A1 displays a little purple window with white lettering: "Cannot Play the Disc" and the front of the A1 displays "ERROR."

For Nero I tried both "techniques" in the first post. I tried the Nero technique #1 using the DVD-ROM (UDF) option with XBOX compatibility set. No luck.

I noticed the demo patterns disk had 3 folders, AUDIO_TS, VIDEO_TS and HVDVD_TS. MF5 only produced the HVDVD_TS folder. So I then tried technique #2 (DVD-Video option). Created the folders and files as recommended, etc. I also tried technique #2 with DVD-ROM (UDF) but the result was no different.

I am sure I missed something or there is a little detail in the instructions that should be there but isn't. Why would Nero technique#1 not require the addition of the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders since MF5 does not create them?

I'll keep trying. Once I figure it out I'll post.

Thanks for responding texmex.

OK. I'm up and running.

The issue was either Nero or my burner or both.

My old computer (which didn't work) has a LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-851S. THe new computer (which did work) has a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-107D.

Go figure.

THe strange thing is the test disk iso I mentioned before worked just fine and I burned it with Nero on the LITE-ON drive ?????

Anyways I'm up and running. Thanks to all for this very cool thread and providing the knowledge for doing this.

I think I'll have to go buy 100 DVD-R's now :).

Joseph Clark

08-09-06, 07:38 PM

I added some things to the guide at the end - called Frequently Asked Questions/Helpful Suggestions. I'll be adding a few more before long. Please review and let me know what you think.

I'd like to add a FAQ on DVD burners, the good and the bad. Could we have some reports on particular brands of drives to add to the recent ones that have been posted - both good and bad? (Such as the NEC for $31.)

christefan

08-09-06, 11:17 PM

My hunch was correct. Mode 1 with ISO+Joliet+UDF File System works perfectly.

Have you tried the UDF setting with DL discs? I tried it once with a Sony 500 DRu burner and the A1 won't play it, i get an error message of 'this is not a dvd discs'. thanks, steve

Bitwize

08-09-06, 11:45 PM

Yes, I can use the UDF setting in Nero no problem with Verbatim DL DVD+R discs. My burner is a Plextor 716A.

As for authoring, I've figured out how to author pretty much any TS file that is 29.97 frames/sec. If it's 25 f/s it burns and I can play it but the video is jerky and the audio gets out of sync. Shame the A1 doesn't support 50hz playback :( The Xbox 360 doesn't even blink when you throw a 50hz file at it. Plays like a charm over my network. Hopefully a future firmware upgrade will support 50hz playback on the A1.

FYI, Here's the process I use for succesful authoring of 29.97 f/sec TS files to DVD-/+R and DVD+R DL:
1) Run TS file through Quickstream fix in VideoRedo to a new TS file
2) Split the new TS file in VideoRedo to mpeg program stream file(s)
3) Run the mpeg files through mpeg-vcr to new mpeg program stream files (this fixes the serious loading time issues in VS10+, at least for me)
4) After loading file in VS10+, change project settings to match movie size and audio bitrate settings, but leave "Don't convert compliant Mpeg files" checked
5) Write(Burn) to HD-DVD folder and burn to disc with Nero 7.

This process works like a charm. Real shame about 25 f/sec files not working right. I've got some good movies that are 50hz :( The Fifth Element being one of them. Oh well, will just keep fingers crossed for firmware upgrade or firmware hack.

christefan

08-09-06, 11:58 PM

Joseph Clark

08-10-06, 01:08 AM

Thanks for the UDF DL info, mpeg-vcr is working for you but the two programs i tried it with both ended up with audio sync problems so i'm trying to just use videoredo and vs10+. Trying different burners is important and a possible problem solver, i tried to burn a DL with Nero on a Sony 810 and it made a coaster but the same burn on a SOHW 832s played just fine, it was great to recover the editing and workup time on the project by just switching dvd units-steve :)

I've had no luck with my Sony burner, either. Ditto the Pioneer 108, 109, 110. My Mad Dog Megastor 6-in1 works fine, as do my Plextor 750s. Wonder why I have so many burners? I used to do a few hundred DVDs a semester for my students when I taught video production. I'd put all their classwork on DVDs after they turned them in, so I'd set up several burners at once on different systems to cut down on the time it took to create all the copies.

This process, by the way, is a dream for students who are serious about doing work in HD. Some of my students had bought their own HD camcorders (or rented them) as I was leaving teaching. At that point, just over a year ago, there was no inexpensive workflow that allowed them to shoot, edit and master for distribution a finished HD project. Now we can shoot on HDV, edit in realtime on a PC, and burn the finished product onto an industry standard format (HD DVD) - all at a level of affordability that I didn't think was going to be possible for some time. After all, it took a long time for similar solutions to become available for those wanting to author their own DVDs. Some of the frame rate issues must be resolved for it to be a more flexible solution, but this process gives me confidence that those issues will be addressed sooner rather than later.

I would be surprised if enterprising students haven't found this thread and are already planning projects around the process. Just as DV changed the face of video production, affordable HDV cameras and HD DVD authoring will change the face of HD video production. If there are students out there who have found this thread helpful/inspiring, I'd like to hear from you. Feel free to PM me if I can help in any way.

stevenjw

08-10-06, 03:38 AM

Could a firmware update or next gen player eliminate the ability to recognize and playback DVD-R discs created using this process to burn HD material? Just curious if I'm being paranoid or not, but it seems to me that this "feature" could disappear in the future. Anyone know for sure? Anyone care to venture a guess?

I hope I'm wrong, but just in case, I've ordered a second HD-A1 using the OnePass discount. I have two SXRD displays, so this measure of safety was just another reason to buy a second unit. I already have a dozen SL discs burned from HDV material and plan to start using the HDV camcorder even more now that my tapes are freed up. Having this cheap authoring ability and convenient playback feature does make HD filming a lot easier. I don't have to buy anymore expensive HDV tapes either for archiving. And since others in my family have the HD-A1, I can now make cheap copies and mail them so that they can enjoy them too.

pteittinen

08-10-06, 04:13 AM

Have you tried the UDF setting with DL discs? I tried it once with a Sony 500 DRu burner and the A1 won't play it, i get an error message of 'this is not a dvd discs'. thanks, steve
No, I haven't burned any DL discs with Roxio yet. I have burned DL discs with the Xbox compatibility enabled with Nero, and they worked.

pteittinen

08-10-06, 01:29 PM

Got quite frustrated about the long Ulead loadtimes and did some testing.

original: 8.43GB TS MPEG2 1920x1080i

1) Ran the file through VRD's QuickStream Fix and created another TS file.
2) Opened the 'fixed' file in VRD, exported to MPEG2 PS.
3) Used Womble MPEG-VCR's MPEG System Stream Convertor. Used the VRD-exported MPEG2 PS as source to create another MPEG2 PS file.
4) Used InterCom's excellent Super MPEG2 Transcoder to squeeze the VRD-created PS to a size that would fit a Dual Layer disc.

Started Ulead VideoStudio 10's Disc Creator, set project type to HD DVD. Clicked Add File, navigated to the directory with the MPEG2 PS files. Approx. times from clicking on the filename to when the Info button became available (i.e. when Ulead had parsed the file and would accept clicking OK button.)

Womble MPEG-VCR: ~6 minutes
VRD: ~6 minutes
Super MPEG2 Transcoder: ~4 minutes (*)

(*): filesize was 0.5GB smaller than the other two, which probably explains the time difference.

In other words, using Bitwize's method of running the VRD-exported MPEG2 PS through Womble to create another, faster loading MPEG2 PS file did not work for me at all.

update: Noticed just now that the Guide on page 1 describes a different method of saving MPEG2 PS files with Womble. I'll test that next.

pteittinen

08-10-06, 02:09 PM

Ohhhkayyy... This time I used the Save method described in the Guide on page 1. Womble created an MPEG2 PS file which was very close to the VRD one in size. It took Womble approx. 6 minutes, funnily enough. The resulting file loaded in VS10+ in a flash, exactly like Bitwize wrote.

I noticed one difference. In VS10+ Add File dialog window there's the Info button you can click once Ulead has parsed the file to its satisfaction. Clicking on the Info button, I see the following:

VRD MPEG2 PS
Video type: MPEG-2 Video
Data rate: 18000 kbps

Womble MPEG2 PS
Video type: MPEG-2 Video, Lower Field First
Data rate: Variable bit rate (Max. 18000 kbps)

Perhaps someone with more technical experience could take a look at the headers of both files to see what the actual difference is?

KoolKiwi

08-10-06, 02:45 PM

I see today that MF5+ (ie. 'Plus' version) has been released.

I'm just downloading the trial now, but wondered if anyone else had tried this yet to find out what they have improved?

They mention Blue Ray direct to disc support, and also "Supports files captured from DVB-T or DVDB-S tuners, in frame sizes ranging from 352x240 to 1920x1088".

So sounds like they have added a fix for 1088?

I wonder if they now support 720p resolution?

Only bummer is, I just paid $50 to buy MF5, now they want another $50 to upgrade to the Plus version. :(

pteittinen

08-10-06, 02:48 PM

Koolkiwi, thanks for the info. Those specs sound good, I'll have to take a closer look.

Darrin

08-10-06, 02:51 PM

I'm really hoping somebody can help here. I have quite a few streams now that will NOT load in mpegvcr. I just get the "Scan" box and eventhough it appears to be loading, nothing ever happens. I tried video redo quick stream fix but it does absolutely nothing for me. ANY help is appreaciated.

pteittinen

08-10-06, 02:58 PM

Darrin, have you tried running the streams through MPEG2Repair (http://users.adelphia.net/~mwilczyn/mpeg2repair/)?

Darrin

08-10-06, 03:13 PM

Darrin, have you tried running the streams through MPEG2Repair (http://users.adelphia.net/~mwilczyn/mpeg2repair/)?

Yes. I run most (if not all) of my streams through mpeg2repair. I usually don't repair them, just more for error logging as I fing mpeg2 does more harm then good with regards to repairing.

KoolKiwi

08-10-06, 03:16 PM

Koolkiwi, thanks for the info. Those specs sound good, I'll have to take a closer look.Hmmm... I just installed the trial download, and nothing much seems to have changed from HD DVD perspective?

I still can't select the create ISO image option, and the properties still only lists 1920x1080 and 1440x1080 resolutions.

Perhaps they have only really added support for Blu-ray straight to disc?

Initial look, it doesn't appear to be much (if anything) here for HD DVD users to want to spend $50 to buy all over again!

I have to go to work now so I can't evaluate any further right now, but I'll be keen to see what others report of this upgrade?

pteittinen

08-10-06, 03:26 PM

Yes. I run most (if not all) of my streams through mpeg2repair. I usually don't repair them, just more for error logging as I fing mpeg2 does more harm then good with regards to repairing.
OK. Are you trying to get Womble to open Transport Streams, or Program Streams?

Darrin

08-10-06, 03:57 PM

OK. Are you trying to get Womble to open Transport Streams, or Program Streams?

Transport Streams. Both Videoredo AND HDTV2mpeg will NOT create an .mpg that MF will open/load.

pteittinen

08-10-06, 04:10 PM

Transport Streams. Both Videoredo AND HDTV2mpeg will NOT create an .mpg that MF will open/load.
And you shouldn't even try to use H2M to create MPEG2 Program Streams, even though the option is there. Have you tried opening the TS in H2M, flipping the "set vertical to 1080" switch in the configuration menu and exporting it into another TS file for further processing by VRD or Womble?

cal87

08-10-06, 04:21 PM

pteittinen, how are your results with the transcoder? How large a file have you tried? How much reduction before the quality dropoff is just too great?

I've been experimenting with re-encoding down to 720p and DL DVD size, but it just takes too long. Quality seems ok though (tried some 10-11 GB files).

pteittinen

08-10-06, 04:29 PM

Darrin

08-10-06, 04:42 PM

cal87

08-10-06, 04:45 PM

cal87, I've noticed there's no set limit for the compression percentage. Not surprisingly at all, the results depend a lot on the file you're transcoding. I've seen files that didn't look too bad after using 75% compression -- but there was also one TV show episode I did with a setting of 90 and the result looked clearly worse than the original. Generally I'm trying to avoid going below 90.

By "re-encoding down to 720p", do you mean you're giving the transcoder a 1080 file and telling it to re-encode to 720p? Surely not?

I am experimenting with encoders - TMPGEnc and ProCoder. And yes, I am going from 1080 to 720, also straight 1080 to 1080 and just reducing size. Just trying to see what kind of results I get. We're talking >24 hrs to do the job, so I don't have much to compare yet.

Probably a big waste of time. I'll probably stick to my original no re-encoding and using multiple DVD-5s - they're faster to burn anyways.

Just trying to see if this is an equivalent scenario to DVDShrink vs DVDRebuilder/CCE scenarios for SD DVDs.

cal87

08-10-06, 04:48 PM

I'll be damned if I can't find a "configuartion menu" in HDTV2MPEG. Where would it be located??

Click on the little colored circle in the upper left corner. You'll get a drop down menu.

Darrin

08-10-06, 04:50 PM

Click on the little colored circle in the upper left corner. You'll get a drop down menu.

Thanks. I had an older version that didn't have that. I will give it a shot.

Darrin

08-10-06, 05:11 PM

And you shouldn't even try to use H2M to create MPEG2 Program Streams, even though the option is there. Have you tried opening the TS in H2M, flipping the "set vertical to 1080" switch in the configuration menu and exporting it into another TS file for further processing by VRD or Womble?

I don't use H2m to create program streams. I did what you suggested but it did nothing. I cant believe I am the only person having this problem with mpeg2vcr. I know you are not found of womble products but it is the only program that works with Movie Factory for me.

stevenjw

08-10-06, 06:16 PM

I've created over a dozen DVD-R HD discs from HDV .m2t captures using Womble MPEG-VCR v3.14, Ulead VS10+, and Nero 5.5.10. I use various menus within VS10+, including the supplied HD default one, the default one from MF5 that I copied over, and others that can be downloaded for free from Ulead. I create chapters and even use .mp3 sound bites on these menus. It takes a little longer for to create the HD folder, but I think the added menus and chapters polish up the final product and are worth a little bit of up front time and effort. It's really very minimal.

They all play, but I do get various results and haven't figured out a pattern yet. Sometimes they work without a problem, other times I can't get the HD-A1 to navigate from the main menu to the content. It may have to do with which menu I work with or if I include chapters and chapter sub-menus. However, the good news is that these discs always jump to the HD content and play if I select STOP and then PLAY. It's never failed yet. So, what I thought might be a coaster works with this easy work-around to any menu navigation issue. If anyone else runs into the same problem, try this first before tossing the disc.

texmex

08-10-06, 07:04 PM

the transport streams from StarzHD on E* are 1440x1088 in h264---does anyone out there have any solutions for trying to edit and transfer these streams to hd-dvd like we have been doing for regular MPEG2 streams? thanks in advance for any suggestions or help-steve :)

Nero "MAY" be releasing an update next month that "MAY" support HD-DVD authoring of AVC/h264 streams. Just rumor at this point, but something to keep an eye on. Now, are the E* streams HD-DVD compliant? I guess we may find out soon enough...

OT - it's very disturbing to see that E* has chosen to down-rez their MP4 from 1920 to 1440. What's the point of using the advanced codec if you're going to throw out 25% of the resolution. Very frustrating...

Joseph Clark

08-10-06, 07:13 PM

Nero "MAY" be releasing an update next month that "MAY" support HD-DVD authoring of AVC/h264 streams. Just rumor at this point, but something to keep an eye on. Now, are the E* streams HD-DVD compliant? I guess we may find out soon enough...

OT - it's very disturbing to see that E* has chosen to down-rez their MP4 from 1920 to 1440. What's the point of using the advanced codec if you're going to throw out 25% of the resolution. Very frustrating...

Are they doing that to all their MPEG4 programming? There are reports of bit shaving from HDNet, also. All disturbing trends. None of this sounds good for HD satcasting.

Hey, texmex, we're still waiting for that PayPal info from you. I'm ready to contribute to the texmex fund to say thanks for your contributions to this process. (If I just missed it in the new thread, sorry. I haven't seen it since the new sticky surfaced.)

pteittinen

08-10-06, 07:19 PM

I am experimenting with encoders - TMPGEnc and ProCoder. And yes, I am going from 1080 to 720, also straight 1080 to 1080 and just reducing size. Just trying to see what kind of results I get. We're talking >24 hrs to do the job, so I don't have much to compare yet. Just trying to see if this is an equivalent scenario to DVDShrink vs DVDRebuilder/CCE scenarios for SD DVDs.
Right, right. I misunderstood you; I thought you had found a way to use the Intercom Transcoder to change resolution and wondered how come I hadn't seen that option :)

I did some tests with TMPGEnc as well, but found the process to be a waste of time really. If the file is only a bit too large for a DL, I'll transcode it. If the quality starts to suffer, I'll use the original file and split it on multiple discs. Quick, efficient and the results are just marvellous. Gotta love HD DVD for this feature!

pteittinen

08-10-06, 07:21 PM

I don't use H2m to create program streams. I did what you suggested but it did nothing. I cant believe I am the only person having this problem with mpeg2vcr. I know you are not found of womble products but it is the only program that works with Movie Factory for me.
Aaaactually, the March 2005 version of MPEG-VCR I have now is working quite well, and it's now a part of my workflow.

What's the source of your problematic TS files? Odd how I've never had the problems you describe, and I've gone through quite a few transport streams now.

cal87

08-10-06, 07:33 PM

I did some tests with TMPGEnc as well, but found the process to be a waste of time really. If the file is only a bit too large for a DL, I'll transcode it. If the quality starts to suffer, I'll use the original file and split it on multiple discs. Quick, efficient and the results are just marvellous. Gotta love HD DVD for this feature!

I tend to agree with you.

Just an exercise (in futility :eek: )

Just wanted to prove that I could do it.

Nathan_R

08-10-06, 10:28 PM

Joseph Clark

08-10-06, 10:46 PM

Since I'm up and running with a working setup, I guess I'll give my specs.

Burner: Philips DVD+-RW DVD8701
Media: Fujifilm DVD+R DL
Nero 7.2.3.2
MPEG-VCR 3.14
Ulead 5.0.0189.0

Two days ago, I did a test burn of 1080i DD2.0 Fifth Element to make sure everything was working correctly. Tonight I've confirmed that my 1080i DD5.1 Return of the Sith is playing back like a charm (on DL discs, no less) on my XA1.

Thanks for all the great info in this thread.

Thanks for the report. Glad to know it's working well for you. And thanks for the DVD burner report, too.

Grandmaster,

We haven't heard from you for a while. Hope you are out of harms way where you are in the middle east. Let us know how you are doing.

Darrin

08-11-06, 08:46 AM

Aaaactually, the March 2005 version of MPEG-VCR I have now is working quite well, and it's now a part of my workflow.

What's the source of your problematic TS files? Odd how I've never had the problems you describe, and I've gone through quite a few transport streams now.

Ok, although Quickstream fix did NOTHING for my problem (actually, I have read that in some situations, quick stream fix can do some damage), just saving as a .ts and then re-loading in MPEGvcr did the trick. I have only done one file so far so I will have to experiment. Do you know where one can grab an older version of Mpegvcr?? I am running the latest version.

Brajesh

08-11-06, 03:59 PM

What do you guys think of my HD DVD cover template? I'm making three PSD versions: slim-single (7mm spine), slim-double (9mm spine) & slim triple/quad (regular DVD case spine size).

RockStrongo

08-11-06, 04:03 PM

What do you guys think of my HD DVD cover template? I'm making three PSD versions: slim-single (7mm spine), slim-double (9mm spine) & slim triple/quad (regular DVD case spine size).

Very nice!! I like it.

pteittinen

08-11-06, 04:17 PM

Darrin

08-12-06, 07:46 AM

Brajesh

08-12-06, 01:14 PM

Thanks.

Nathan, I just FTP'd you the 3 PSD files & my first HD DVD cover, "Blade Runner". Will be doing "Kill Bill" (both volumes), "Open Range", "Vertical Limit" & more shortly. Hope others will contribute covers as well.

Darrin

08-12-06, 04:05 PM

1st on the Block

08-12-06, 10:54 PM

Joseph Clark

08-13-06, 12:38 AM

I've fallen behind in this thread so I'm not sure if you guys have talked about getting 1080p 24 fr/s movies through VS10+ but I tried it and obviously it wanted to convert it. So I put the mpeg file through HDPatcher v106 changing the file to 29.97 frames a second instead of 24. VS10 then muxed the file without hesitation and without converting it. Then I loaded the .evo files created by VS10 into HDPatcher (change to all files) and changed the framerate back to 24. The resulting disk played beautifully on the Toshiba.
Hope this was informative and not repetitive.

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have any 24fps files to try this with. I know some people have had issues with different frame rates. If this solves a problem for any of you, it should go in the guide. I'm sure the frame rate issue will pop up often in the future.

How about some more feedback from those of you who are experiencing the problem.

Arpeggio

08-13-06, 01:26 AM

Just did a 19GB version of The Shining....20+mbps bitrate (and 3 Dual Layer DVD-DL's) looks friggin beautiful.

Except for the occasional long MPG import in MF5 this process is rock solid.

Anyone successfully convert any 1920x1080i 25fps videos? :o

pteittinen

08-13-06, 05:31 AM

Anyone successfully convert any 1920x1080i 25fps videos? :o
You can force MF5 and VS10 into "PAL" mode, and they will then accept 25fps content without re-conversion. A1/XA1 won't play the content properly, however.

pteittinen

08-13-06, 05:34 AM

I've fallen behind in this thread so I'm not sure if you guys have talked about getting 1080p 24 fr/s movies through VS10+ but I tried it and obviously it wanted to convert it.
Like I mentioned earlier (in the other thread probably), you can force VS10+ into encoding 24p by tweaking the Project settings and feeding it non-compliant source. I tested it, it works, resulting files are 24p, but A1 played the resulting disc with some freezed frames. It possible the freezes were in the VS10+ encoded content, and not caused by the player.

Joe Q

08-13-06, 07:37 PM

Can someone point me to a program that will convert a 1280x720,full HD bit rate WMV file to an MPEG2 file with the same quality, please?

I have downloaded about 6 trial versions and none of them produce an output file (Mpeg2) that is as good as the input file(WMV).

They all seem to have a much lower Video birate as they muist be designed for Standard Def Video.

I obviously need the Mpeg2 file to make a HD DVD for the Toshiba.

Procoder was suggested and I downloaded the trial version but it does not support WWMV as one of the source files.

I tried yet another which I emailed the company about because the output mpeg2 was degraded. They had me try another download trial program but that one crashes.

All of the variousm trial version that I have tried do not allow me to specify the same high bit rate as the WMV file had so I suspect that is where the degradation is coming from.

All I am trrying to do is make a full rez version of my PlasmaquariumHD CD that will play on my Toshiba and have the same great PQ on my Televsion Plasma as I see on my PC monitor.

Obviously, the PlasmaquariumHD CD needs Media Player to work.
That is why I am simply trying to take the one big WMV file on it and make a DVD out of it and NOT lose resolution.

Thanks

oshodi

08-14-06, 03:17 AM

Here's the guide. I need everyone to take and look and tell me what I missed/got wrong. I'll make changes ASAP.
Permit me to please ask a layman's question: How on God's green Earth does one capture a high definition MPEG2 video to one's computer from a DirectTV HD DVR??? :confused: :confused:

Please help. :confused:

Joseph Clark

08-14-06, 12:17 PM

Permit me to please ask a layman's question: How on God's green Earth does one capture a high definition MPEG2 video to one's computer from a DirectTV HD DVR??? :confused: :confused:

Please help. :confused:

DirecTV subs may be able to help more with this one. Here's the page that describes how to get a DirecTV box legally modded so you can capture its MPEG2 streams.

Nextcom R5000 MPEG2 Capture Device (http://www.nextcomwireless.com/r5000/products.htm)

I don't think there's a DirecTV DVR on the list of supported devices, although they do mod a Dish 622. Note that the mod is not about getting things off the hard drive, but intercepting the stream before it gets there (and is encrypted).

Joe Q

08-14-06, 01:22 PM

Permit me to please ask a layman's question: How on God's green Earth does one capture a high definition MPEG2 video to one's computer from a DirectTV HD DVR??? :confused: :confused:

Please help. :confused:

Go to Yahoo groups and find the HDTIVO group.

We have a HOW TO there which shows the steps necessary to put one's HDTIVO onto your network and do what you ask.

It is not for the faint of heart though.

bminda

08-14-06, 06:30 PM

First off - Many thanks to everyone on this thread for the awesome, virtually revolutionary work on HD DVD authoring...
I've successfully authored quite a few disks with no hardware or software problems yet i still cant figure out why MPEG2VCR doesnt always correctly read the 5.1 channel audio info and reports it as a 2 channel source [when you click the "INFO" button in MPEG2VCR & display the source info]. It is not a source based .ts problem since it plays in 5.1 with Media Player Classic and Media Player. I have tried VideoRedo and same result: 2 channel source reported.
This is NOT the same problem as people reporting that MF5 converted the 5.1 stream to 2.0... in my case, the stream is being reported as 2.0 in MPEG2VCR from the start. MF5 keeps it 2.0, Ulead burns it as 2.0 and HD-A1 plays it as 2.0. Yet the source itself is 5.1!

BTW this happens with roughly half of the .ts movies i tried to author. For the others, the 5.1 is correctly read by MPEG2VCR.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

texmex

08-14-06, 06:48 PM

bminda

08-14-06, 07:40 PM

Texmex - U R BRILLIANT MAN!!!! Spot-On. It was the header causing M2V to misread the stream... i chopped out the beginning few seconds and it works nicely...
thanks again!! and great work on the patch by-the-way!

Hyrax

08-14-06, 10:59 PM

Blasst

08-15-06, 12:00 AM

Joseph Clark

08-15-06, 02:26 AM

Just a word of thanks for this thread and to all who have donated their expertise at HDDVD authoring!! I'm a basic newbie to all of this, yet was able to burn from my Sony HC3 a HDDVD copy using Ulead, and Nero. The learning curve is steep for someone like me who has never used a program to burn a regular dvd.:) My first copy came out fantastic. Now I just need to learn how to add music, etc, etc. Thanks again guys!

So good to hear that you are creating your own HD DVDs from the HC3. I have the HC1. It's great being able to shoot in HD and having a way of authoring and distributing that is so easy. My first HD DVD was of my own HD material, and it was such a liberating feeling to be able to author so early in the game. It was like the feeling I had when I was first able to take DV footage and author it to regular DVD.

Hyrax

08-15-06, 09:48 AM

Blasst

08-15-06, 12:08 PM

So good to hear that you are creating your own HD DVDs from the HC3. I have the HC1. It's great being able to shoot in HD and having a way of authoring and distributing that is so easy. My first HD DVD was of my own HD material, and it was such a liberating feeling to be able to author so early in the game. It was like the feeling I had when I was first able to take DV footage and author it to regular DVD. Amen to that Joe!:) Do you or any of our other esteemed members have some pointers on putting music to the HDDVD? Can you use Ulead, or Nero? I'm sure if I dig around long enough I can find a way.... but a easier way would be my cup of tea.

pteittinen

08-15-06, 12:27 PM

If anyone cares, I've been testing relatively cheap Matrix DL DVD+Rs from Shop4Tech and they have worked fine so far with my Nec 3550A burner. In batches of 25 they cost $1.44, and there is a 10% off coupon (B2S10) good until the 24th of August. These are definitely cheaply made disks, and (although they work for me) I'm not sure I recommend them for everyone. Be aware that these may not work with your burner.
I got a 3550A today to complement my "arsenal". I have some really cheap 'n' nasty MediaRange +R DLs that wouldn't burn properly on a BenQ1640/1650 or Nec 3500AG. The burn quality by 3550A is a lot better than by any of the above, though it's still not even close to average. Some drives might/will have a problem with the disks and, in fact, already did - my I-O Data AVeLinkPlayer hiccupped a few times trying to play a test burn. No problems on my PC, though.

In case someone didn't know, burn quality is all about the amount and severity of PI/PO errors on a burned disk. A poor burn means error rates and values way above the DVD spec, which means some optical drives will be unable to read data off the disk. A good drive with good error correction might play the disk fine, but poorer drives will throw in the towel.

Bitwize

08-15-06, 01:08 PM

Interesting problem I just ran into...

...all of a sudden the A1 stopped recognizing my DL DVD+R discs that i've authored. just says "no disc". even if i power off the A1, remove and reinsert the discs, i get the same result...

...but, if i put in a retail hd-dvd, then remove it and reinsert my DL DVD+Rs it recognizes them!

What the heck is that all about? have any of you heard of this happening? Thanks!

Hyrax

08-15-06, 02:42 PM

Interesting problem I just ran into...
...all of a sudden the A1 stopped recognizing my DL DVD+R discs that i've authored. just says "no disc"...
...but, if i put in a retail hd-dvd, then remove it and reinsert my DL DVD+Rs it recognizes them!

Interestingly enough, I occasionally have the same issue with retail HD DVDs. The A1 would not recognize 'The Bourne Supremacy' until I started up with another disk and swapped in Bourne. Bourne worked every time after that. I wonder if it has something to do with the A1 getting confused while trying to detect where you last were on a disk. I'm thinking I may have shut down part way through a disk, opened up the player, put in another disk, and the A1 got confused. Whatever it was, I cannot recreate it.

I'm using firmware 1.2. What are you using?

GodobeHD

08-15-06, 02:46 PM

Amen to that Joe!:) Do you or any of our other esteemed members have some pointers on putting music to the HDDVD? Can you use Ulead, or Nero? I'm sure if I dig around long enough I can find a way.... but a easier way would be my cup of tea.

Just go to edit media > enhance video > audio > add audio, after you load the clip from HC3 in Ulead. You can mix the music in with selected level or even record your own voice.

Bitwize

08-15-06, 02:47 PM

Good point. I think I'll make a more concerted effort to push the stop button a couple times before powering down my A1.

In a way, I'm glad to hear you had the same problem with a retail disc ;) Now I know it's probably not confined to authored discs.

Btw, I'm using firmware 1.4. Works great 99% of the time. Looking forward to a new upgrade though.

GodobeHD

08-15-06, 03:44 PM

Lately I have been getting some audio/video out of sync problem out of Ulead. The video was fine before Ulead cooked it, then the EVO file coming out of Ulead would have a video lag about 2sec and so was the HDDVD disc created from it. Anybody who had similar experience with Ulead care to comment and share some insight on it? Thanks much.

Blasst

08-15-06, 07:02 PM

Just go to edit media > enhance video > audio > add audio, after you load the clip from HC3 in Ulead. You can mix the music in with selected level or even record your own voice. Thanks GodobeHD, I'll give that a try tonight and see what I can do.

Arpeggio

08-15-06, 09:13 PM

So has anyone authored an HD-DVD with a DTS audio track?

Any ideas on this? :confused:

bminda

08-15-06, 11:43 PM

Hyrax - i use MPEG2VCR. You can trim and split up the file and do general frame editiing [taking out commercials, etc] quite easily.

bminda

08-16-06, 12:04 AM

Arpeggio

08-16-06, 02:39 AM

arpeggio - i only authored 1 disk with a DTS track. the sound plays fine but as DD5.1. that's what my receiver tells me it is. i verified that the original stream does have the DTS sound as the primary and only audio track [some files give a standard DD5.1 as audio track 1 and dts as track 2].

Hmmm, thank bminda..... :)

Sounds like maybe DTS got downsampled to DD 5.1??? Do you remember the software taking an abnormally long time to convert the MPG file to HD-DVD?

bminda

08-16-06, 04:31 PM

arpeggio - i didnt notice MPEG2VCR or Ulead taking any longer than normal... the blue bars came up right away in the Ulead burning of the HD DVD folder.

dheiskel

08-16-06, 07:41 PM

I am new to burning HD DVD's. I have used Deep Burner Pro for data backups for some time. I tried burning the hd test iso with a NEC 3550A onto both +R Sony 1x to 8x and -R Memorex x16.

Neither will read on the RCA 5000, I get a NO DISC message.

I also tried burning GetGray as a DVD onto both +R and -R discs. Both will read in other PC's and DVD players, but neither are recognized on the RCA.

I tried another drive a NEC ND-1000A which can do +R and the RCA couldn't read that either.

Should I try other burning software. If so what is the best?

dheiskel

08-16-06, 10:39 PM

I answered my own question by downloading Nero 7. Both getgray and HD test files both work on DVD-R after burning with Nero burning Rom. I don't know what deep burner was not doing properly but nero overcomes it.

inhdv

08-17-06, 06:34 AM

I have just burned my 1st hd dvd with my fx-1 finally using the method posted , no need to down convert anymore, thank god!! Has anyone been able to edit in sony vegas 6 and keep the original m2t file and then change it to a program stream? I have vegas 6 but I am still trying to learn it. I have been able to make a 20 minute hd-dvd on a single layer dvd-r without any editing.

Hyrax

08-17-06, 09:46 AM

Hyrax - i use MPEG2VCR. You can trim and split up the file and do general frame editiing [taking out commercials, etc] quite easily.
Thanks! I need to remove some bad spots from a recording and VideoReDo always screws up the file. I just got the MPEG2VCR program and I hope it will allow me to recover from the recording errors.

Joseph Clark

08-17-06, 09:58 AM

Thanks! I need to remove some bad spots from a recording and VideoReDo always screws up the file. I just got the MPEG2VCR program and I hope it will allow me to recover from the recording errors.

MPEG2VCR was able to save several episodes of Battlestar Galactica for me that I had edited in HDTVtoMPEG2. I edited around the old edit points I had made in H2M. I've had a lot more trouble doing anything with files previously edited in VideoRedo. I just can't use them. If you have the original, you should be OK.

Bitwize

08-18-06, 10:48 AM

okay, it seems all my dual layer dvd+r verbatim discs are giving me the same problem...

i have to keep loading a retail hd-dvd, a retail dvd, OR a dvd backup before loading one of my dual layer dvd+r TS->HD-DVD discs, otherwise the A1 just says no disc. so i'm thinking it's one of three things:

1) the A1 is not liking dual layer dvd+r and i should use dual layer dvd-r instead
2) the disc is not being burnt properly in Nero.

Btw, do you all burn the HVDVD_TS and the ADV_OBJ folders in nero or just the HVDVD_TS folder? Does the ADV_OBJ folder cause problems with the A1 if it's empty? Would burning an ISO file (containing both HVDVD_TS and ADV_OBJ folders) from MF5 with dvd decryptor produce a more compatible disc?

appreciate any feedback. thanks!

Brajesh

08-18-06, 11:25 AM

I've not had problems w/Verbatim +R DL, Fuji +R DL or even Memorex +R DL. I use the NEC 3520A DVD burner. I burn the HVDVD_TS folder to the root in Nero & the empty VIDEO_TS.VOB file to the Video_TS folder. What is the ADV_OBJ folder? Never noticed that.

pteittinen

08-18-06, 11:25 AM

1) the A1 is not liking dual layer dvd+r and i should use dual layer dvd-r instead
95+ percent of my DL disks are +R. No problems.

2) the disc is not being burnt properly in Nero.
Very likely. Nero is a buggy POS. I've now had 100% success rate with Roxio8. I suggest you give it a try.

Btw, do you all burn the HVDVD_TS and the ADV_OBJ folders in nero or just the HVDVD_TS folder?
I burn only the HVDVD_TS folder.

Hyrax

08-18-06, 12:51 PM

Bitwise-
I'm using Nero 6.6.? and having no problems. I use the Xbox compatible method and am having no problems reading any DL DVD+ media. That includes Verbatim, Memorex, or even the super cheapo Matrix media. I am only burning HVDVD_TS folder.

Can you play the same disk twice in a row, or do you need to always insert a retail disk?

I wonder if it is something in Firmware 1.4?

Brajesh

08-18-06, 12:57 PM

Praying the v2.0 firmware coming out 8/22 won't disable DVD media being recognized as HD DVDs. I hope next generation players won't either.

Bitwize

08-18-06, 12:58 PM

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

The DL DVD+Rs will play repeatedly once i get the A1 to recognize them. I am using the process in the guide for burning with Nero 7. Like I said, if I have trouble, I just pop in any retail dvd/hd-dvd and then put my DL DVD+R back in and ta da, it recognizes disc.

Strange that it would be a Nero issue if the disc plays at some point. Shouldn't it play or not play if Nero was causing a problem with the burn?

Maybe it is a 1.4 firmware issue. I'll try using Roxio8. What steps do you take to burn with Roxio8?

Thanks again!

pteittinen

08-18-06, 01:35 PM

Maybe it is a 1.4 firmware issue. I'll try using Roxio8. What steps do you take to burn with Roxio8?
I've got v1.2 firmware in both my players. If 1.4 is causing such problems... not a good sign.

Roxio8 is a doddle. Just a couple of things to check in options

1) You shouldn't be burning Multisession discs, so Options > Data > Write-Once DVD Compatibility > select choice "I only need to use discs for one recording."
2) Roxio8 seems to be very forgiving about File System. Check Options > Data > CD Recording Options. I've chosen Track at Once (TAO), Closed, Mode 1 and ISO+Joliet+UDF (106 character file names). That combo produces perfectly working HD DVDs.

I also tested ISO Level 2 (212 character file names) and the disc worked just as well.

Once you've set Options, all you need to do is drop the HVDVD_TS folder into the root of Data Disc, and burn.

Hyrax

08-18-06, 02:52 PM

Maybe it is a 1.4 firmware issue. I'll try using Roxio8. What steps do you take to burn with Roxio8?
I suspect Roxio8 will not help. There is no question that Nero has a ton of bugs, so trying another product is a good idea. It just doesn't sound like anything like a burning problem. Hopefully you can try before you buy...

It is also very odd that once the disk plays you never have problems with it again. These really do sound like problems in the A1. Fortunately it is a relatively minor problem (or would be if the A1 started up faster).

I'm waiting for others to update to 2.0 firmware before I take the plunge :)

Bitwize

08-18-06, 08:11 PM

ok, problem solved, thus far...heheh.

if i close the disc tray using the "play" button on the remote, the DL DVD+R plays fine :) if i use the open/close tray button on the remote, the disc is not recognized.

also, just because one of my discs worked doesn't means it will always work. i found that i still had to load a retail hd-dvd or dvd or dvd-r backup before loading my DL DVD+R. BUT now i think i've found a workaround, just by using the Play button to close the disc drawer. an odd fix and maybe a firmware 1.4 bug.

guess i'm just glad it works :)

Blasst

08-19-06, 12:48 AM

Just go to edit media > enhance video > audio > add audio, after you load the clip from HC3 in Ulead. You can mix the music in with selected level or even record your own voice.
I can't seem to get the audio to burn correctly. Using Ulead, I select audio in the enhance video tab, and put the file in. They are WAV format. I can hear the music play before I burn on Ulead, but when I hit burn, I get the Convert title info with VERY slow bars, which the step by step instructions say are a problem. If I delete the audio file, then the video file burns just fine. I've tried for over 3 hours now with different songs etc. What in the hell am I doing wrong?

Blasst

08-19-06, 11:57 AM

By the way I'm still using the free trial versions of Ulead and Nero, if that makes a difference.

Hyrax

08-20-06, 12:21 PM

I can't seem to get the audio to burn correctly. Using Ulead, I select audio in the enhance video tab, and put the file in. They are WAV format. I can hear the music play before I burn on Ulead, but when I hit burn, I get the Convert title info with VERY slow bars, which the step by step instructions say are a problem. If I delete the audio file, then the video file burns just fine. I've tried for over 3 hours now with different songs etc. What in the hell am I doing wrong?
I've not used it for a few years, but I believe a program called VirtualDub will allow you to convert the WAV file to MP3 (and maybe even AC3) and then join it to your video before you send it (the combined video and audio) to ULEAD.
Use Google to find VirtualDub, it is a common program and free. Heck, here is a good link:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualdubmod/

Hyrax

08-20-06, 03:12 PM

It also looks like MPEG2VCR has multiplexer that allows you to join a MPEG video file and a MP3 audio file. Never tried it, though.

Blasst

08-20-06, 03:33 PM

Then I cannot use a WAV audio file then, even though I can hear it before the burn on Ulead? I thought you could select a song selection from a cd and open it up in Ulead? Excuse my lack of knowledge doing this.... I'm here to learn.

Hyrax

08-20-06, 04:14 PM

I'm not the best source for this, but I am almost positive that WAV files are not part of either the DVD spec or the HD DVD spec. They have to me converted into something else. The best thing to convert them into is AC3 streams, but I *think* that MP3 will also work.

You do not have to do any of the stuff I mentioned. I think MF5 will eventually create the merged (multiplexed) video you want. However, I believe that using the WAV file is triggering ULEAD to do a audio and maybe even a video conversion. This take can take hours and not result in great video. Doing the multiplexing outside of ULEAD gives you more control and means that you will have a compliant source file and ULEAD does not need to do any conversion. Unfortunately, it is also more work.

When you take your song selection from a CD, try creating a MP3 fiel instead of a WAV file. Then use VirtualDub or MPEG2Repair to join it with the video. Should be pretty easy.

Blasst

08-20-06, 07:28 PM

Hyrax, thanks for your patience. I took a song selection from a CD, converted it to MP3 using Roxio. That didn't work once I got to the burn part of Ulead. I'm not sure how to use MPEG2Repair. I downloaded the freeware for it.... and I don't get it:(. I do know I was able to make a short HDDVD clip and added music to it a couple of days ago. It was from my piano keyboard to a cd recorder. Then I took the cd and added it to the video. I can't get any of those "homemade" tunes to work now either. Maybe since I don't have the full version of Ulead, which could be causing my problems. It seems like when in Ulead and it says "Add Audio" that you should be able to just add songs from anywhere on your computer! Ulead is the only program that will see my HDV footage when I hook the camera up to the computer. Does MPEG2Repair see it also? Steep learning curve here:)

Hyrax

08-20-06, 11:12 PM

Blasst, it is more like an overhang than a curve. I'll try itmyself tomorrow and write something up. Do you have MS Word?

Blasst

08-21-06, 01:28 AM

Yes I do.

pteittinen

08-21-06, 02:53 AM

Blasst, is your WAV a 48Khz one? I think it needs to be.

rbarbier

08-21-06, 07:14 AM

I search everywhere for this answer but couldn't find it. I have Cast Away on my hard drive (from ABC HD). I converted/edited the commercials using VideoReDo. That left me with a file the size of 11.1gig. I was able to create a HD DVD folder with Ulead.

Of course, this is too big for a DVD DL. What is the best thing to do to either 1) Fit this on a DL, or 2) Split the file into 2 parts. I still have the original file (dvr.ms), the edited file (.mpg) and the HD DVD folder.

Also, I have a bunch of movies I archived onto DVHS tapes. What is the best way to put these on DVD DL for my HD DVD player? I am not talking about the D-Theatre versions, just some movies I got off of local HD channels.

Thanks and sorry if this has been answered already.

Brajesh

08-21-06, 08:30 AM

rbarbier

08-21-06, 09:12 AM

I've been converting my DVHS tapes to HD DVDs and most movies fit on two DL discs or 1DL+1SL. Some long movies ("Open Range" comes to mind) take 2DLs+1SL. I don't reduce the quality of the movies to make them fit onto single discs. This feels like the laserdisc days, but I don't mind splitting movies over 2-3 discs. Optimal quality is what matters. The bitrate makes a big difference, but I can fit between 1 hr to 1hr&30mins onto a DL.

Thanks. So what is the best way (program/technique) to split the file into 2 DVD's? Also, what is the best way (program/technique) to hook my DVHS player to transfer my movies to HD DVD (with DVD DL)?

Thanks again.

Nathan_R

08-21-06, 09:50 AM

Blasst

08-21-06, 11:52 AM

Blasst, is your WAV a 48Khz one? I think it needs to be.How do I determine if it is 48Khz?:)

pteittinen

08-21-06, 12:06 PM

How do I determine if it is 48Khz?:)
There are plenty of audio editing applications and utilities (even freeware ones) that can tell you the specs of the WAV file in a heartbeat. Or you could play the file in Winamp and check what the display says, 44k or 48k.

cal87

08-21-06, 12:22 PM

A little OT.

I just finished off my Ridata DL Media, had no problems.

Just started into my supply of Verbatim DL DVD Media, rated at 2.4X
It actually burned at about 6X. No problems, as far as I can tell so far. Should I be concerned and set the max speed at 2.4X? Don't want to start making coasters.

pteittinen

08-21-06, 01:14 PM

Just started into my supply of Verbatim DL DVD Media, rated at 2.4X
It actually burned at about 6X. No problems, as far as I can tell so far. Should I be concerned and set the max speed at 2.4X? Don't want to start making coasters.
No matter what the media or the burner, you should never burn a DL disk at a speed higher than what it's specced for.

Brajesh

08-22-06, 03:08 PM

Heads up: Verbatim +R DLs are less than $2/disc with coupon code "B2S10" & free shipping at shop4tech.com.

wewantflair

08-23-06, 03:47 PM

I successfully (finally!) burned and HD program captured from my own HD Tivo (hr-250) to dual layer DVD (HD DVD format).

Here's a question, though: My pre-amp (adcom 750) doesn't accept analog 5.1 audio inputs, so I have my audio connected via digital optical. It seems that in ULead, there is no way to maintain the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio stream through Bitstream playback. I have to switch my Tosh to PCM, and then switch my pre-amp to the appropriate audio format. Is there any way to fix this issue?

pteittinen

08-23-06, 03:53 PM

Is there any way to fix this issue?
For some folks, DD5.1 is passed through Ulead MF5. For me it didn't, so I switched to Ulead VideoStudio 10+ and have been a happy camper ever since.

wewantflair

08-23-06, 04:07 PM

Thanks for the input, but that's pretty profoundly annoying. I wonder if it's because of the input mpeg file or some option in the program. Can anyone else offer any insight?

pteittinen

08-23-06, 04:11 PM

Didn't mean it to be annoying. Only gave you a viable and working alternative.

Marc D Carra

08-23-06, 04:38 PM

Sorry I'm late. Here are Brajesh's creations: http://www.hdtvexplorer.com/hddvd/

Nathan_R,

I've got about 40 or so HD-DVD covers that I've made so far. They are all using the same template I made. Here are a couple low-res examples:

LINK REMOVED

Marc.

wewantflair

08-23-06, 04:39 PM

Didn't mean it to be annoying. Only gave you a viable and working alternative.

LOL you didn't annoy me - sorry if it read that way. Inconsistent software is annoying. Thanks for your suggestion - I'll check out video studio next.

Nathan_R

08-23-06, 05:37 PM

Marc, if you want me to host them, let me know and I'll give you ftp access to my upload dir.

Hyrax

08-23-06, 11:39 PM

Thanks for the input, but that's pretty profoundly annoying. I wonder if it's because of the input mpeg file or some option in the program. Can anyone else offer any insight?
I believe it is a combination of things, but mainly problems in MF5. What I've found is that if MF5 opens the input file quickly then it will create 5.1 audio. If it takes a long time to open the file, then it MF5 has identified a problem in the audio and tries to convert the audio to an acceptable format. You don't want MF5 to convert the audio [ot the video], because problems like yours get introduced.
Switching to VS 10+ may help, but I'd not hold my breath.

On a side note, my receiver is a little old and I have had a lot of trouble with Toshiba's digital output. I had to switch to analog, and it works great. It is too bad you cannot do the same.

KoolKiwi

08-24-06, 05:52 AM

Has anybody confirmed yet whether the 2.0 Firmware update still supports red laser DVD+/-R playback of our homebrew HD DVD discs?

I would hate to upgrade for TrueHD support, only to find all my homebrew HD DVD's would no longer play!

pteittinen

08-24-06, 06:15 AM

Has anybody confirmed yet whether the 2.0 Firmware update still supports red laser DVD+/-R playback of our homebrew HD DVD discs?
Yup, no problems with 2.0.

cal87

08-24-06, 03:46 PM

Capek

08-24-06, 07:40 PM

Joseph Clark

08-25-06, 02:30 AM

Thanks for putting this together Joseph. I've had a bunch of .ts movies sitting on an extra hardrive until I got around to either building an HTPC or buying a snazzio or some such player, but now I don't have to thanks to your guide. I tried it out with Sponge Bob The Movie, and it worked without a hitch. The results are outstanding, and now I'm going to go through my whole collection.

I'm glad the thread has been helpful to so many people. It's the only reason I bought an HD DVD player at this stage of the game. The contributions to the thread come from all over the world, from some really talented and enthusiastic people. It's fun to be a part of it by helping out with the guide.

Hyrax

08-25-06, 03:02 PM

Joe, could you put a large, red warning in your first post telling people not to discuss or post pictures of copyrighted materials?

I am probably being anal about this, but it seems to me that people have to stop mentioning the copyrighted movies they're copying to disks. The people who own the copyrights are not going to be happy if they think that all we're doing is copying their material to disks.

With the introduction of this HD DVD Player, Toshiba has suddenly eliminated the need to have a computer in the TV room in order to Timeshift HD programs. I have a HD DVR, but it fills up too fast. The techniques we're discussing allow me to record shows on my PC and easily watch them when I've the time. This is an invaluable ability of the A1, and I don't want it to suddenly disappear, and I fear it will disappear if people continue talk about the movies they're burning.

Hopefully the posts that do mention copyright material will be deleted quickly by the moderators.

Nathan_R

08-25-06, 03:16 PM

I am probably being anal about this

People have been legally timeshifting HD for at least 7 years. There is nothing illegal about archiving HD. We've been doing it legally with d-vhs and/or harddrives since around '98 or '99. That's kind of the whole point of 5C-- it tells us what we're allowed to archive and how many generations we may keep for private home use. There is nothing different between recording on an HD DVR and an HD DVD as far as the law is concerned. It's how those recording were obtained that matters (i.e. buying pirated material on eBay).

When people start mentioning selling those recordings here, then action should be taken.

Hyrax

08-25-06, 04:32 PM

People have been legally timeshifting HD for at least 7 years. ... When people start mentioning selling those recordings here, then action should be taken.
Agreed; I'm not saying we shouldn't be allowed to timeshift, or we need to be sneaky in any way. We have a right to timeshift and there is no need to be shy when talking about it.

However, it should be mentioned that timeshifting and archiving are two different things. All I'm suggesting is that we keep a low profile so it doesn't become an issue.

Joseph Clark

08-26-06, 03:53 AM

As Nathan says, there's nothing illegal about what people are doing here. If it were, the thread wouldn't be on AVS. Obviously, Hollywood would prefer that all such capabilities be stripped from us. They've fought tooth and nail to do just that. That's why I was so excited about this process. It gives us a small window to do what is still legal and what we have had a right to do since the mid 80s. I'm sure they ("The Powers That Be") are aware of it and are jockeying to find a way to stamp it out. They probably will one day and that's very sad.

pteittinen

08-26-06, 07:55 AM

I have to say I'm with Hyrax here. I'm in touch with movie industry people on a daily basis, and you wouldn't believe the amount of paranoia and hysteria that's running rampant over there. I suggest people refrain from posting names and pics of movies they've transferred to HD DVD.

Joseph Clark

08-26-06, 10:02 AM

Point taken, gentlemen. I suppose there's not much to be gained by throwing gasoline on the fire.

Nathan_R

08-26-06, 01:06 PM

This is absolutely ridiculous. There is no semantic difference between archiving and timeshifting. Are you saving a program so you can watch it later? It matters not on what media you save the program-- beit VHS, DVR, harddrive, DVD, HD DVD, or Blu-ray. Archiving is timeshifting is archiving period. I understand that many people in this thread have never transferred data from a DVR or HD tuner card before, but just because a new authoring tool comes along does not it's suddenly quasi-legal or we're doing anything wrong. People, is NO different than transferring programming to a DVHS tape.

I guess if this "Shhh, don't mention what you're recorded or the cops will come after us" stance is what we're going to take, perhaps we should shut down the whole HDTV Recorders and HDTV Programming sections we have-- afterall, program titles have been mentioned there from time to time (read: almost every thread) and we've been archiving them to D-VHS for almost ten years.

Thanks for all the great info in the guide-- we know how to make HD DVDs, but what else is there is left to discuss now? This archiving method is nothing but a stop grap until the standalone HD DVD recorders (like the HD-R1) and pc HD DVD recorders hit the market this year. What do you think those devices are meant to do? Are we not going to talk about our experiences transferring programs to them?

Thanks again for the info in the guide-- my DVR appreciates the unloading. But I'm done with this thread. Really, there's nothing else to discuss here other than gotchas/errors in moving HD from one source to another. To think otherwise is quite naive.

Capek

08-26-06, 05:13 PM

pteittinen

08-26-06, 06:35 PM

This is absolutely ridiculous.
It absolutely is not. You obviously have no idea how some folks in the industry think. Unfortunately I do.

There is no semantic difference between archiving and timeshifting. (...) People, is NO different than transferring programming to a DVHS tape.
The point, which I really can't stress enough, is that we know this - they do not. Do not underestimate the levels of fear and paranoia studio executives are capable of.

To think otherwise is quite naive.
Want to hear what's really naive? To think that studio execs won't care about authoring HD DVDs from transport streams, when they learn about it.

There's nothing wrong about discussing the matter on a general level. There's no reason why we couldn't talk about authoring HD DVDs. I only recommend we don't mention what sort of content we are putting on those discs. Having said that, the cat's out of the bag already...

KoolKiwi

08-26-06, 10:46 PM

Ok, I have a question about the significance of "x of x video frames found with errors" message when I run movie through mpeg2repair. Same goes for the "audio frames" message. If there is even one frame with an error, should I always use the "Repair Errors" function in M2R? Is there a point at which too many of these errors will make a noticable impact on the viewing experience? What do the more experienced people do when they come across these errors in a movie they're reauthoring?From personal experience, you want to look mostly at the size / duration of the errors. ie. If the errors only account for small blocks of data, or brief moments of time, then you might find that the repair process adds new issues (or more importantly, the actual logged errors are not at all noticable on viewing).

Generally I do not use the Repair option of Mpeg2Repair. Someone suggested that you could "log and repair" at the same time (if you have sufficient disc space), but then, how much time do you want to spend determining whether the "repaired" or unrepaired .TS is the best to use for he HD DVD? You would probably have to burn both to discs and view both, to determine which gives the best result (if indeed you could detect any difference in most cases)!

Personally, I simply "log only" via Mpeg2Repair, and unless there are significant timestamp gaps (in which case I run through quickstream fix), I just proceed with the HD DVD as is!

So far this has produced a visually error free viewing experience in almost every HD DVD disc I have mastered, with the exception of only 1 or 2 discs that had significantly worse errors in the Mpeg stream.

Don't forget that the HD-A1 is a pretty forgiving MPEG decoder (in fact in my experience it handles Mpeg errors as well as (perhaps better) than my HTPC. This is probably due to the fact that the HD-A1 is of course based on PC technology, but with a dedicated (and robust) OS / application software configuration.

PS: To you other guys, please let's keep this thread on track, and not degrade it into an argument over what is / isn't legal. If you have concerns, please keep your discussion to PM, or PM a moderator to review what is acceptable.

Capek

08-26-06, 11:04 PM

Thanks a lot KK, that's kind of the answer I was hoping to receive. One of the coolest things about authoring these poor mans HD-DVDs is how fast and easy it is. The thought of tieing up my main PC for hours error checking and repairing .ts files had dampered my enthusiasm a bit. I'll go ahead and proceed with the movies I've been getting video frame error messages with and see how things go.

btw what is the accepted opinion on what is a "significant" timestream gap? In other words how high can that number be and still produce a normal viewing, and how high can it be when it absolutely must be put through quickstream fix? Is there a consensus on this yet?

KoolKiwi

08-27-06, 01:52 AM

btw what is the accepted opinion on what is a "significant" timestream gap? In other words how high can that number be and still produce a normal viewing, and how high can it be when it absolutely must be put through quickstream fix? Is there a consensus on this yet?My experience is that the HD-A1 honors the timestamps in the mpeg stream (noted earlier in this thread).

eg. If you had a .TS file with a 180 second timestamp gap, your HD-A1 would appear to freeze on playback for 3 minutes (with a frozen image on-screen). If you didn't wait for 3 minutes, you would think the player had actually frozen on you. If you do wait, playback continues after the timestamp gap period.

Due to this, the only effect of a timestamp gap, is a pause in playback for the duration of the gap. How long a duration is noticable, also depends on the affected scene. eg. If it is during a scene transition, a gap of 10ths of a second may not even be noticable. But if it is during a panning scene, then any timestamp gap would be an issue.

Fortunately these timestamp gaps are usually the result of the tools used to edit advertising breaks, therefore they usually occur at a scene transition.

To cut a long story short, I generally don't worry about any total reported timestamp gaps of less than 0.1 second (ie. 0.0x seconds). If timestamp gap is > 0.1 seconds I run through Quickstream fix.

So far this has worked fine for me. At the end of the day you just want to be able to enjoy a glitch free disc recording, with no lipsync issues etc. We can strive for perfection, however, if on a rare occasion you master a disc that has an extremely brief (almost unnoticable) glitch, is that really going to destroy your enjoyment?

Capek

08-27-06, 02:08 AM

My experience is that the HD-A1 honors the timestamps in the mpeg stream (noted earlier in this thread).

eg. If you had a .TS file with a 180 second timestamp gap, your HD-A1 would appear to freeze on playback for 3 minutes (with a frozen image on-screen). If you didn't wait for 3 minutes, you would think the player had actually frozen on you. If you do wait, playback continues after the timestamp gap period.

Due to this, the only effect of a timestamp gap, is a pause in playback for the duration of the gap. How long a duration is noticable, also depends on the affected scene. eg. If it is during a scene transition, a gap of 10ths of a second may not even be noticable. But if it is during a panning scene, then any timestamp gap would be an issue.

Fortunately these timestamp gaps are usually the result of the tools used to edit advertising breaks, therefore they usually occur at a scene transition.

To cut a long story short, I generally don't worry about any total reported timestamp gaps of less than 0.1 second (ie. 0.0x seconds). If timestamp gap is > 0.1 seconds I run through Quickstream fix.
Ah, ok that's very good to know. I was thinking that maybe a timestop gap might cause the audio to get out of sync with the video, so that even a small gap would need to be fixed. If it's just a pause for a fraction of a second it's no big deal at all.

So far this has worked fine for me. At the end of the day you just want to be able to enjoy a glitch free disc recording, with no lipsync issues etc. We can strive for perfection, however, if on a rare occasion you master a disc that has an extremely brief (almost unnoticable) glitch, is that really going to destroy your enjoyment?
Nope, not at all. Thanks for your help. :)

sn1ffb0

08-27-06, 08:17 PM

Works perfectly! Thank you sir!

Marc D Carra

08-28-06, 09:50 AM

Big news for everyone here that uses Ulead MF5 and VS10 here. I came into work this morning to the news that our company (COREL Corperation) has acquired Intervideo!!!!

Read about it here:

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Section/Display&sid=1047022946165&cid=1156537505352&gid=1047022985433

So we are the new owners of MF5 and VS10! :) I'm in support services so hopefully I can be your go between for any issues or suggestions in the future!! ;)

Marc.

pteittinen

08-28-06, 10:03 AM

Nice one. Sooo... H.264 support for MF/VS, when? :D

Marc D Carra

08-28-06, 10:09 AM

Nice one. Sooo... H.264 support for MF/VS, when? :D

It's one of the first things I'm going to bring up!

Marc.

pteittinen

08-28-06, 10:30 AM

Marc, you might also mention MPEG2 @ 720p support, so we wouldn't need Texmex's marvellous application. Oh, and support for transport streams, killing another unnecessary step :)

Oh, oh (I'm on a roll here!), could you find out why MF/VS take forever 'tasting' some MPEG2 files, but opens others (the ones processed by Womble) in a heartbeat?

GodobeHD

08-28-06, 10:39 AM

So we are the new owners of MF5 and VS10! :) I'm in support services so hopefully I can be your go between for any issues or suggestions in the future!! ;)

Marc.

Hey, Marc, can you now include in Ulead your HD DVD cover making features ;)

Marc D Carra

08-28-06, 10:42 AM

Joseph Clark

08-28-06, 10:46 AM

The current MF/VS support team will just LOVE me! :D

Marc.

And you might just love US when we get through with our feature requests. Great news, Marc.

KoolKiwi

08-28-06, 02:59 PM

Marc, you might also mention MPEG2 @ 720p support, so we wouldn't need Texmex's marvellous application.To start with a seemingly simple issue (just to see how you go), I would strongly second this as an initial request.

I couldn't understand when I downloaded the wonderful *new* MF5+ (plus), that they still hadn't even added the additional HD DVD supported resolutions. Presumably these are just templates or entries in a data table somewhere?

For some unknown reason MF5 seems to only support 1920x1080, 1440x1080, and the (undocumented?) 1280x1080 resolutions? What gives?

If you get some traction with the MF5 team on this simple request, then you could go on to deliver the master request list! ;)

brywalker

08-28-06, 08:18 PM

Is there a new link to obtain HDPatch? The one on the main page is no good. Thanks!

texmex

08-28-06, 11:04 PM

Is there a new link to obtain HDPatch? The one on the main page is no good. Thanks!

Try right-clicking and choosing "Save As...". For some reason, left-clicking doesn't seem to work.

Brajesh

08-29-06, 09:17 AM

Joseph Clark

08-29-06, 09:58 AM

Guys, am I missing something or is there just one menu template available for HD DVD in the standard MF? I don't see any template downloads offered on their website either. I can customize the background image with my own JPG, but MF won't let me fit more than 4 menu items on a page, nor allow me to git rid of that curvy swoosh overlay over the preview clip. Anyone know of a way to further customize the menu than what I'm seeing?

Looks like MF+ offers many menu templates. See attached.

There are several in the full retail version of MF. When I ordered the program, they sent a link to a download with extra content. It was separate from the main program download. If you didn't get the extra link, contact them. Many of the elements are customizable, although the selection/change process is not the most intuitive I've ever seen. Sometimes you have to left click to select the item, then right click to bring up the customization options for that particular item. In other words, just right clicking an item without left clicking to select it first might not bring up the menu. Kinda wonky.

Joseph Clark

08-29-06, 10:10 AM

Try right-clicking and choosing "Save As...". For some reason, left-clicking doesn't seem to work.

Thanks for the reminder, texmex. I made a note of this just above the files in the guide.

Brajesh

08-29-06, 12:48 PM

Teaches me to read e-mails carefully going forward :o

1. Use the license key to unlock the product (see below).

2. Download the full version (Extra contents for DVD MovieFactory 5 -
English) at:
http://***no-full-url***/dmf5_content_e.exe
File Size: 89.9 MB
Download Time: Modem/ISDN ~ 209 Min. == DSL/Cable ~ 16 Min. ==
T1/1.5Mbit ~ 8 Min.

3. Download the full version (DVD MovieFactory 5 Direct Disc Recording -
English) at:
http://***no-full-url***/dmf5_ddr_e.exe
File Size: 96.1 MB
Download Time: Modem/ISDN ~ 224 Min. == DSL/Cable ~ 17 Min. ==
T1/1.5Mbit ~ 9 Min.

4. Download the full version (Photo Explorer 8.5 - English) at:
http://***no-full-url***/pex85_esd_e.exe
File Size: 22.9 MB
Download Time: Modem/ISDN ~ 53 Min. == DSL/Cable ~ 4 Min. ==
T1/1.5Mbit ~ 2 Min.

5. Download the full version (Win DVD Trial - English) at:
http://***no-full-url***/dmf5_windvd_trial_eng.exe
File Size: 54.7 MB
Download Time: Modem/ISDN ~ 127 Min. == DSL/Cable ~ 10 Min. ==
T1/1.5Mbit ~ 5 Min.

6. Download the full version (Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 TBYB - English) at:
http://***no-full-url***/dmf5_tbyb_e.exe
File Size: 81.7 MB
Download Time: Modem/ISDN ~ 190 Min. == DSL/Cable ~ 15 Min. ==
T1/1.5Mbit ~ 7 Min.
Since I used my license key to only unlock the trail version, I guess I should install everything above except for 'Win DVD Trial'? Also, I wonder what 'TBYB' stands for in that last link?

Marc D Carra

08-29-06, 01:25 PM

Teaches me to read e-mails carefully going forward :o

Since I used my license key to only unlock the trail version, I guess I should install everything above except for 'Win DVD Trial'? Also, I wonder what 'TBYB' stands for in that last link?

TBYB = Try Before You Buy

Generally TBYB software is a trial with an embedded full version that can be unlocked with your purchase serial number.

Marc.

Brajesh

08-30-06, 10:00 AM

cal87

08-30-06, 01:26 PM

I have been working with some ts files with multiple audio tracks. The only way that I have been able to make it work is to use HDTVtoMPEG2 to make a new ts file with only one audio stream. The problem is that I have had to do a trial and error method to figure out which is the right stream.

Is there a better tool to either figure out in advance which stream to select or to strip out the unneeded audio streams?

cal87

08-30-06, 01:30 PM

Thanks Marc & Joe.

For MPEG4 AVC/H.264 streams, I wonder if they could be converted to MPEG2 using this free tool (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=SUPER_1). Until we have a way to directly author MPEG4, this may be a way to at least get them on HD DVDs. Or, perhaps this free tool (http://www.elecard.com/products/products-pc/consumer/online-converter/). Just trying to find out if I should sign up for StarzHD on Dish w/end goal of authoring HD DVDs off captures.

A lot of these conversion tools only work up to DVD resolution - 720x480.
The only way that I have been able to convert H.264 files successfully is to use TMPGEnc Xpress. I also have had to install ffdshow and Haali media splitter to be able to import the files into TMPGEnc. The encoding process is extremely slow, so I have given up on this for now.

Also, TMPGEnc only goes up to 1440x1080. Procoder goes up to 1920x1080, but I cant get H.264 files to work (works for wmv or to shrink MPEG2 files). Bottom line, probably not worth the effort, just save the H.264 files until the authoring tools are available.

joewmaki

08-30-06, 08:17 PM

I see that Ulead MF5+ is officially out.

It appears to add some BD capability and other stuff not applicable to HD DVD authoring.

Has anyone had a chance to check it out, and are there any added benefits for HD DVD?

I notice the features and benefits pdf mentions support for 1920x1088 resolution now. It's never been an issue for me.

DVDoctor

08-30-06, 08:59 PM

Joe Clark great work this is a super resource

I have been trying on the insiders forum to get Amir and the HD insiders to see the importance of official support for some of the variants of HD on red disks being played on HD DVD players. So far I get the impression that it is not looked at as being any sort of priority. Since this thread is dedicated to in essence home brew hd dvds I wondered what the interest here is

I see two important aspects of HD dvd that IMHO are really important

First is an effort to expand the support for the creation of HD red dvd's since media costs in the interim will be very high. There is a large population of HD camcorders out there and being able to create hd dvd's from HDV source is important. I have not seen any official licensing for the HD DVD camp, so my concern is that while things might work at this stage unless it is officiall supported, we can run into the situation of "well we never said it would work"

the second area, is a bit more complicated, but here goes

Sony has, (and a lot of people on this thread might be already familiar with this so sorry if I repeat) introduced a new line of HD camcorders some with dvd drives some with only hard drives and a dvd writer called the DVDirect which all use AVCHD. They have pretty much lined up all the other usual suspects in camcorders panasonic, canon, and the editing software folks with SONY VEGAS leading the pack to support this. It seems to be Sony and a lot of the other folks direction for NON tape HD content acquision. I suspect that based in the cost of BD drives, and also the likely hood that in the short term bd writers are not likely to be reliable writing in a hand held camcorder environment, and of course the size of the drves, the approach has been to use HD on Standard DVD media. SO we now have an OFFICIAL supported HD on red DVD standard. Currently Sony and the gang are saying that the playback devices for these disks are, PS3, pc with sony's software, and BD DVD players.

I belive that this will be a large segment of HD content, and I have been trying to get the HD folks to realize its importance and also to officially license and sign up to support Avchd on the HD dvd players. I understand with Vc-1 etc the politics, but at the same time MS has not been able to convince the camcorder people to use VC-1 as an acquisition format.

The situation is that with the DVDirect dvd writer from sony, the camcorder users can copy from the mini dvd's or the hard drive in the camcorder and create a hd red dvd. BUT this unit has no playback ability (based i would guess on limited processing power) so again the only way to play back these dvd's are in your camcorder IF it is the dvd version, or as I said a PS3/pc or BD player.

I think it is important that the whole hd on red laser media be supported, and I see this as a way forward that based upon BD support might be politically feasible. Other wise the focus seems to be just on HD DVD content, playing back standard DVD's and ignoring officially the HD on red dvd media.

anyone else out there interested in this support???

John

meli15

08-30-06, 11:00 PM

A lot of these conversion tools only work up to DVD resolution - 720x480.
The only way that I have been able to convert H.264 files successfully is to use TMPGEnc Xpress. I also have had to install ffdshow and Haali media splitter to be able to import the files into TMPGEnc. The encoding process is extremely slow, so I have given up on this for now.

Also, TMPGEnc only goes up to 1440x1080. Procoder goes up to 1920x1080, but I cant get H.264 files to work (works for wmv or to shrink MPEG2 files). Bottom line, probably not worth the effort, just save the H.264 files until the authoring tools are available.
I have been using winavi video converter ver 7.6 in mpeg2 format and it works for me.It has an advance setting for video size 1440 1088 or 1920 1088........and its fast................let me know what you think.........Mel

dr1394

08-31-06, 09:13 AM

I've encoded the entire "Elephants Dream" open source movie. You can download it here:

http://www.w6rz.net/ed.zip

It is almost 11 minutes, so it's a pretty big file - 1,394,612,788 bytes.

I've tried to make it both HD-DVD and MF5 compatible. Video is 1080i@29.97 with telecine flags at 18 Mbps average, 26 Mbps peak (although there may be some actual peaks to 29 Mbps). GOP size is 12 frames. Audio is Dolby 2.0 at 384 kbps.

The audio seems a little out of sync at the end of the clip. I'm not really sure why, but I'll see if I can fix it.

Let me know how well it works out. Even though it's a large clip, I'm hoping MF5 will not have to do any re-encoding. I'm also interested to see if the high video bitrates are a problem.

Ron

Brajesh

08-31-06, 11:47 AM

Is this a h.264 ts stream you encoded with WinAVI? I may have to try the tool (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=WinAVI_Video_Converter).